What's Your Writer Persona? Hobbyist Hayden + Career Cary
December 18, 2024:
Personas,
Your Process
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What's Your Writer Persona? Hobbyist Hayden + Career Cary
By now, you’ve probably seen at least a piece of your writerly self in one or more of the six personas we’ve covered.
Here’s a little recap:
- Learning Logan is driven by a desire to improve.
- Motivation Max struggles to find motivation.
- Publication Pat values publication, and is ready to work for it.
- Grandiose Gary also values publication, but is not ready to work for it.
- Message Morgan has something to say, and wants others to hear it.
- Social Sam is here to connect with other writers.
This week, we introduce the final two personas: Hobbyist Hayden and Career Cary, who write for opposite reasons, but can both benefit from a supportive writing community.
The first secret of getting what you want is knowing what you want.
—Arthur D. Hlavaty
Hobbyist Hayden
Some people don't want to write for fame or fortune, and while accolades are nice, they don't drive them either. Meet Hobbyist Hayden, the persona who's here for the love of writing.
First and foremost, Haydens writes for expression. They may have been writing since they were a kid, or recently discovered the joy of creating stories. Whether it’s for fun or self-realization, they write purely for the sake of writing. It’s their thing!
While Haydens may not desire publication, they may want friends and family to read their work. That means they'll need to be able to write a coherent story. When you write for yourself, it can be difficult to step into the minds of your readers. Edit your work from the perspective of your invoked audience, the audience you imagine might read your work if you were to share it, and never skip the revision stage. Any hobby is worth pursuing to the best of your ability.
Career Cary
If you want to make writing your career, you might be a Career Cary. Many people like Cary hope to be able to quit their day job one day, or make a career switch so their occupation reflects their true passion.
While we can't promise that tons of talent and sheer determination will make you the next breakout bestselling author, there is no shortage of career opportunities related to writing. Being a successful novelist is far from the only option. You may want to work with language in some other way, such as a copywriter or freelancer, and create stories to hone your professional writing skills.
Either way, we can offer advice about how to turn your night job into your main gig, from the perspective of those who've accomplished just that.
The more you know yourself, the more clarity there is. Self-knowledge has no end—you don't come to an achievement, you don't come to a conclusion. It is an endless river.
— J. Krishnamurti
Hayden and Cary Both Benefit From Directed Writing Groups
Bardsy’s directed writing groups can offer Hayden and Cary a place to thrive. Hayden's who have a dash of Social Sam in their personality will enjoy the comradery of a group setting while they work on improving their writing abilities. Even if you're writing only for yourself, there's a satisfaction that comes from knowing you wrote an excellent story, and your directed writing group will give you the tools you need to express yourself fully.
Career Carys benefit from directed writing groups because they provide critical feedback on their work, which helps them produce a sellable product—essential if you plan on making writing your career. Groups also allow you to practice giving and receiving feedback. You need both those skills to be a successful career writer.
Regardless of what writer personas make up your personality, you could benefit from a supportive community of serious writers. To schedule a free trial workshop, email joinus@bardsy.com .
If you’re not quite ready for the group experience, that’s okay too. You can receive feedback on your work by entering our First Chapter Anthology Contest. Every eligible entry will receive feedback in the form of a Publishability Index™ Report, and you'll have the opportunity to revise based on your editor's notes. The sooner you enter, the sooner you can begin perfecting your first chapter. Enter here.