What's YOUR writing gremlin?

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Quiz Questions

1.
When people say the word WRITER you think of…
- A.
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  Old dead writers
- B.
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  Dreamers
- C.
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  Wealth and success
- D.
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  Starving artists
- E.
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  Criticism and judgement
- F.
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  Alcoholics
2.
When you're supposed to be writing, you're most likely to find yourself...
- A.
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  Deep cleaning the oven
- B.
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  Hiding under the duvet
- C.
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  Fuelling up with coffee
- D.
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  Sizing up the competition
- E.
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  Making an overly-detailed plan
- F.
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  Ditching your current work to start something new
3.
Choose your writing spirit animal:
- A.
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  Hen
- B.
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  Owl
- C.
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  Mouse
- D.
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  Meerkat
- E.
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  Rhino
- F.
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  Peacock
4.
How many unfinished writing projects do you have?
- A.
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  Answer A
- B.
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  Answer B
- C.
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  Answer C
- D.
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  Answer D
- E.
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  Answer E
- F.
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  Answer F
5.
You believe writing should make you feel...
- A.
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  Clever
- B.
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  Tough
- C.
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  Inspired
- D.
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  In control
- E.
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  Happy
- F.
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  Special
6.
You would be a successful writer, if you weren't so...
- A.
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  Lazy
- B.
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  Old
- C.
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  Weird
- D.
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  Ordinary
- E.
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  Busy
- F.
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  Untalented
7.
In ten years time, you see yourself...
- A.
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  Answer A
- B.
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  Answer B
- C.
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  Answer C
- D.
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  Answer D
- E.
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  Answer E
- F.
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  Answer F

Quiz Outcomes

1.
Imposter Syndrome Gremlin
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You love creativity and have lots of ideas for stories, but it's possible you haven't even started writing yet, or told anyone you're trying, because you find it hard to believe that you could be a writer. Somewhere along the line you’ve picked up beliefs telling you that you have to feel like a 'proper' writer before you begin. However, this is just the sneaky Imposter Syndrome Gremlin whispering in your ear. What this saboteur knows is that you can’t wait until you feel like a writer to begin. It’s the writing itself that makes you feel like a writer! How to get past this Gremlin? Simple. Just begin. You don’t have to be qualified. You just have to DO IT. That way, the next time Imposter Syndrome Gremlin tells you, “You’re not a writer,” you can shoot back, “Erm, well, I’m writing, aren’t I?” WANT TO BECOME MORE CONFIDENT IN YOUR CREATIVITY?
2.
Control Freak Gremlin
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You like to plan and know exactly what’s going on, but sometimes that need for organisation stops you from ever actually writing! You want to be prepared for everything that’s going to happen on your creative journey - but creativity asks us to explore, often without quite knowing where we are going. That art of ‘letting go’ seems almost impossible when the Control Freak Gremlin's at the wheel! The good news is that you can put this Gremlin to use when it comes to organising your time. Let your inner control freak set a regular time slot for writing. That way, the next time your Control Freak Gremlin starts worrying away at you, telling you that you don’t know what you’re doing, you can simply reply, “Sure I do. I’m turning up at the page at 3pm on Friday. So shush.” And the chances are, that’ll shut your Gremlin right up. WANT TO TRUST YOUR CREATIVITY?
3.
Hyper-Critical Gremlin
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Hyper-Critical Gremlin believes that if you’re going to do something, you should to do it perfectly. But when it comes to creativity, what is perfect anyway? Cue a game where you never quite manage to live up to this Gremlin's high expectations. This Gremlin wants you to forget that when you’re new at something you’re not supposed to be brilliant straight away. All good work begins with bad work. After all, you can’t ice the cake before you’ve baked it. Your mission is to quieten the Hyper-Critical Gremlin long enough to get the words down on the page. Let it know that in the early stages of writing, nit-picking and perfectionism is the enemy of art. But when it comes to the editing and polishing stages, your Hyper-Critical Gremlin will actually come in very useful indeed. But first...it has to let you write! WANT TO STOP CRITICISING YOURSELF?
4.
Too-Cool-For-School
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You’re very aware of the competition, of who is winning what, of the current hot trends. And while it is useful to understand the market, there’s a danger that this awareness could lead you off your own creative path and onto someone else’s. The best way to ensure that you can finish a writing project is to write from your own passions and enthusiasms. Not only does this give you the momentum needed to get to THE END, but it also means that your work will be unique, since it is an expression of your true self. So ask yourself, what do you love? What are you preoccupied by? Follow the joy, follow that trail of breadcrumbs, and you’ll find your true path to creative fulfilment. WANT TO KNOW HOW TO FOLLOW YOUR JOY?
5.
Procrastination Gremlin
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Do you often find yourself organising your tea towel drawer when you planned to write? It’s not that you don’t want to get deeply immersed in your writing project, it’s just that the more focused you become, the more the Procrastination Gremlin pops up with a sign offering free ice cream if you’ll just take a break from your work-in-progress right this instant. (And you really like ice cream.) We get it. It’s totally normal. Procrastination can feel like your friend. But in fact, it’s a losing game where the payoff for these short-term hits of happiness is a longer-term frustration at the lack of progress with your writing. Indulge your Procrastination Gremlin by telling it that, yes, you will reward yourself with some ice cream – but only once this writing session is over. Then switch off your Wi-Fi, set a timer for 30 mins and just WRITE. We promise, that treat will taste all the sweeter. WANT TO FOCUS MORE AND PROCRASTINATE LESS?
6.
Tyrant Gremlin
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You’re determined, tough and bloody-minded, all of which can be admirable qualities – but sometimes this means that you grit your teeth and push on even when it’s not in your best interests. While tenacity is certainly useful for a writer, letting the Tyrant take over can turn the magical act of writing into a grim and joyless chore. To counteract the Tyrant Gremlin, remind yourself that writing is a long game. Sure, you can push your mental and physical health to achieve that deadline – but what about the next one, and the one after that? Creativity likes a good plod, accompanied by self-nurturing and self-loving behaviour that will keep you writing for decades to come. Slow and steady, step by step progress will reap incredible and solid results that you know you can sustain indefinitely. WANT TO CREATE MORE HEALTHILY?
7.
Completion-Phobic Gremlin
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If you got Completion-Phobic Gremlin, it is likely that you get quite far with your writing projects then reach a certain point when a shiny new idea starts to twinkle. And you get the very strong urge to scrap what you’re doing and start afresh. You may believe it’s because your current idea is just no good; but if you found that you have ditched several projects in this way, then it is likely that the Completion-Phobic Gremlin is at work. And the reason you don’t want to actually finish something is fear. Fear of exposure, fear of judgement, fear of failure, to name but a few! To get past the Completion-Phobic Gremlin, you’ll have to make your peace with imperfection and trust that nothing bad is going to happen if you let people read your work. Don’t let this Gremlin prevent you from writing THE END. There’s power in facing your fears and finding them ungrounded. WANT TO FINISH WHAT YOU START?

What's YOUR writing gremlin?

Discover which Gremlin is stopping you from writing, get tips on how to get around it, and claim your writing happiness!

Quiz Questions

Quiz Outcomes