My Psychopathic Tendencies

Well, we're back from Dallas, and both intact in our opposite corners of the country. Skye managed to survive my raving psychopathicness regarding conference with grace and aplomb. (I'm not really sure what aplomb is but it's a cool word and I'm pretty sure she has it.)

As it turns out, my raving psychopathicness actually paid off. I went to all my psychopathically planned workshops and learned a whole bunch about the topic I went to conference this year to learn about: characterization. By far the best workshop I took was Marliss Melton's workshop on using the Myers-Briggs personality test to profile and match your hero and heroine. It was a BIG lightbulb moment.

But I got curious and wondered where I myself would fall on the Myers-Briggs scale, so I went and took the test. Apparently I am an ISFJ (Introverted Sensing Feeling Judger), otherwise known as a Protector Guardian. And, lo and behold, it explains my psychopathic tendencies regarding filling every minute of conference with useful stuff. See that J at the end that makes me a Judger? That means I like to plan stuff. I like to have the decision made, and then stick to it. It's not my fault, it's my personality's fault.

Other stuff about me, according to my ISFJ status, that will make Skye laugh because it's so true:

And although they're hurt by being treated like doormats, they are often unwilling to toot their own horns about their accomplishments because they feel that although they deserve more credit than they're getting, it's somehow wrong to want any sort of reward for doing work (which is supposed to be a virtue in itself).

Poor Skye has heard me whine about my day job often enough to groan, "dear god, so true."

They are capable of forming strong loyalties, but these are personal rather than institutional loyalties; if someone they've bonded with in this way leaves the company, the ISFJ will leave with them, if given the option.

Ooh, again with doing that exact thing in my day job.

They are usually as concerned with being "nice" as with strict propriety.

This trait makes me an endless target for Skye's mockery. Luckily, I don't feel the need to be "nice" to her.

They are often unable to either hide or articulate any distress they may be feeling.

So Saturday night I was wandering aimlessly around our hotel room going, "I don't want to pack. I don't want to go home. I don't want a day job. Life sucks. I feel like crap." Wisely, she saw through my inability to ACCURATELY articulate my distress and recommended rum and sleep, which in fact cured most of the yuckies.

This childlike Ne is the likely source (coupled with fun-loving Extraverted Feeling) of the practical joking, punning and (usually harmless) impishness of some ISFJs.

Impish is such a good word.

So what are you? Go take the test. Come on, don't pretend like you don't have an hour or two to kill gazing at your naval.

Skye says we're supposed to give away books as prizes since we both brought home a buttload of books from conference, so if you go take the test and tell me what type you are, you're in the running for a copy of Bite Me If You Can by Lindsay Sands.

Dallas, Baby, Dallas!

Okay, so it doesn't have quite the same ring to it as Vegas, but whatever. I'm headed there. So is Sonja, but this post is about me. All me. Yeah, baby.

I so thoroughly enjoyed Dallas on my way through the last time that this time I'm going to stay. On purpose, that is. Still, my previous layover not withstanding, this should be a fun trip. Assuming of course, that I don't kill Sonja.

For those of you who don't know Sonja, let me just tell you. She's a great girl. And wonderful. And my bestest buddy. Who else would I share a room with at the RWA National Conference? However, is, in a word, a bit... enthusiastic, is how i shall put it.

For those you who don't know me, I'm laid back. Relaxed. Don't get worked up about much. Very calm. (Sometimes in a hyperactive way). But I'm not a raving psychopath about planning out every minute of my day.

Not that Sonja is, either. At least, not normally. But she is showing raving tendencies when discussing the conference. When you see her list of things she hasn't done, that doesn't include the 12 million that she HAS done. :) I'm more of the "Oh, right, I'm going to conference. Cool." type than "Oh my god, I must plan and pack and prepare ahead of time! Eeek. More p words. Pitch!!" Pitching doesn't scare me. Because, frankly, if i can't get excited about my book and tell someone all about how wonderful it is, then they probably aren't going to want to read it in the first place. But I digress. Since I love her dearly I'm willing to sacrifice my peace and quiet in a hotel room for a roommate that is constantly pestering me to get out and hang out at the bar and network.

And people think I'm the extrovert of the two of us.

Still, dragging me out of my shell is probably for the best. I mean, after all, that enthusiasm and drive is probably why Sonja is PUBLISHED and I'm not. So i guess you'll see me at the bar. And maybe in rehab later. Even so, darn it all, it's going to be a good conference! See you in Dallas!