This is a test...this is only a test...

Indulge me in a quick plug before I get to today's blog post. Amazon has lowered the price of Mind over Madi twice in the past couple days. It is now down to $11.53. If you're interested in taking advantage of this awesome price, click on the link in the left sidebar to be taken directly to the Amazon.com book page.

Commercial over...back to the regularly scheduled blog post...

I love tests and quizzes. No, not the school kind (math...shudder), but the personality kind. My favorite subject in school was psychology, and my love for what makes people tick comes in real handy in writing fiction. So any time I see a link to a personality test, I click on over and see what it has to say about me. And 99% of the time, the assessment is dead-on.

At the beginning of January, Glynnis Whitwer, author of I Used to Be So Organized, held a 10-day Clutter-Free Challenge. For two weeks, she sent a daily email sharing her wisdom, tips, and advice on getting rid of the clutter - not just physical clutter, but mental, as well. Due to some things going on in my life at the time (clutter, ironically), I still haven't made it through all of her emails (I've saved them in a folder for later) but from what I did read, they contain some good stuff! I look forward to taking the time to implement some of her suggestions.

Yesterday, Glynnis sent another email with a link to a motivational test by Tamara Lowe, author of Get Motivated! This test asks the question, "Does your personality hinder your ability to de-clutter?" It basically looks at three categories:

1. What drives you (production or connection)
2. What your needs are (stability or variety)
3. What awards you prefer (internal or external)

Of course, I clicked right over to take the test. There were some questions that were tough. I knew what I should answer, what would be the Christian answer, but I made myself be completely honest. And, once again, I'm amazed at the results, which I've posted below (because I know you're dying to know more about me). The one thing that I thought was way off-base was that the assessment said I am disciplined. If you've followed my blog for long, you know discipline is something I struggle with. But as I thought about it, I realized that I really am disciplined in a way. I usually take on more than I should and always get done what needs to be done. That takes discipline, even if I'm stressing out about it the whole time (saving that topic for another day).

Anyway, today I just want to share the link with you, my fellow writers and personality test-takers. I thought you might enjoy it. If nothing else, maybe you'll gain new insight into your strengths and weaknesses, or come away with new ideas for your characters. 

Here's the link if you'd like to take the test yourself:
MOTIVATIONAL TEST

MY RESULTS (in case you're interested):
CSE (Connection-Stability-External) - The Refiner

Refiners are systematic thinkers who value precision. They have the ability to see the big picture while still focusing on the details. Refiners are conscientious and disciplined. They are supportive and respectful of others. Personal and practical, Refiners tend to be family-oriented. They are deeply loyal and have a well-defined sense of right and wrong. They prefer a “democratic” style of leadership and expect others to play according to the rules.

Refiners are dependable and diligent. Fair pay and sincere appreciation for their work make them feel valued. They are deliberate in their decision-making and want to ensure that their choices do not adversely affect others.

CSE Motivators: All the facts plus enough time to analyze them, competent team members, recognition by superiors, special privileges, freedom from controls and genuine respect.

CSE De-Motivators: High pressure deadlines, too many cooks in the kitchen, rapid change, infringement on personal or family time and perceived inequity.

Did you click on over to take the test? What were your results?

8 Random Facts

OK, this post really has nothing to do with writing at all. But I am a total sucker for fun games and I know how much you all love learning more about me (that is said with sarcasm, people! I really am not an egomaniac) so I decided to transfer my post from GodLinked.com to my writing blog. Maybe this will confirm that writers are real people too!

And you are invited to play along! Either post your 8 random facts here in the comments (I LOVE comments!) or post them in your own blog - but be sure to leave a link here so we can read them!


Here are my VERY interesting and compelling random facts:

1. I would rather go through another root canal than work outside in the yard (all those bugs...shudder)

2. My first real job was at KFC and I got fired because I didn't do the dishes fast enough - it's true!

3. I also worked for a gas station, where I pumped gas and checked oil! I don't mind getting my hands dirty as long as it's not in my yard (see #1)

4. I once had my picture taken with Mr. T. And I didn't even go blind from the flash reflecting off all that bling.

5. I could live on ice cream. In fact, I have been known to down almost a half gallon in a single sitting. Particularly, vanilla with Hersheys syrup and milk

6. My step-dad sees dead people. He really does! He was previously a medical examiner and now works for a funeral home.

7. In high school I played Mary Warren in, "The Crucible."

8. One of my first writing pieces ever published was a greeting card by Blue Mountain Arts in 1994 and it's still being printed and sold in Hallmark stores around the country (I am VERY sorry I didn't demand royalties on that one)

So there you go. 8 things you probably didn't know about me but now you do! Aren't you the lucky one! If you'd like to know more, let me know. I'd be happy to pass along a longer list.

Now go on and blog 8 random things about yourself. I'm not buying that, "Oh...I don't like to talk about myself" stuff. Phooey - you know you LOVE talking about yourself. And I really do want to know! So go ahead and have some fun with it.

I have a Balanced Brain (so yes, I do HAVE a brain)

I love tests. The non-school kind, anyway. Forget about the math facts and Civil War questions...bring on the psychological questions! The ones that probe the mind for clues about personality traits and answers why we do the things we do. THOSE are the tests I'm talking about. I find it fascinating - and as a writer, I must. I need to look at characteristics and inner-most motivations in order to create believable characters that readers can connect with.

So anyway, I took this test that told me which side(s) of the brain I use and how it affects my personality. I found it SO interesting! In fact, almost every part of the following evaluation is totally ME. Let's break it down, shall we? (Because I know you're dying to get a peek inside the brain you didn't think I had!) Oh...and if you'd like to take the test, I've posted a link at the end. But you MUST read through my results first to get to it. Ok, so you could skip down to the link without reading my info but why would you want to?


Lynda, your hemispheric dominance is equally divided between left and right brain, while you show a moderate preference for auditory versus visual learning, signs of a balanced and flexible person. - Okay, I suppose this COULD be argued by those closest to me. But, I declare that, for the most part, I am well-balanced and pretty flexible. In fact, let's just say those Olympic gymnasts should be thankful I'm a writer.

Your balance gives you the enviable capacity to be verbal and literate while retaining a certain "flair" and individuality. You are logical and compliant but only to a degree. You are organized without being compulsive, goal-directed without being driven, and a "thinking" individual without being excessively so. Okay, this is true. I do have my own individual style. I am organized but not compulsively so, I am certainly goal-directed but I do need a push now and then, and I even am a "thinking individual" from time to time!

The one problem you might have is that your learning might not be as efficient as you would like. At times you will work from the specific to the general, while at other times you'll work from the general to the specific. Sometimes you will be logical in your approach while at other times random. Since you cannot always control the choice, you may experience frustrations not normally felt by persons with a more defined and directed learning style. Can I relate to this, or what? (the answer is yes, I can). Definitely experienced frustrations in learning. Just ask my high school Government teacher. This is probably why I am having a hard time finishing my novel. Should I keep going - seat-of-the-pantsish (new word for ya) - or should I be logical and go with an outline? Logical or random? Logical or random? Oh, the frustration!

You may also minimally experience conflicts associated with auditory processing. You will be systematic and sequential in your processing of information, you will most often focus on a single dimension of the problem or material, and you will be more reflective, i.e., "taking the data in" as opposed to "devouring" it. So true! I need things spelled out for me. I'm not stupid (keep those comments to yourself), I just process things more slowly. For instance, I need to understand the big picture before totally understanding the smaller details within it. So, in writing, I need to know how the story will end before I start putting scenes together.

Overall, you should feel content with your life and yourself. You are, perhaps, a little too critical of yourself - and of others - while maintaining an "openness" which is redeeming. Critical of myself....um, like, yeah! Others? Mmmm, not so much but I definitely can be. The openness part is very me. I sure don't have trouble opening up to people. Sometimes too much - just ask them. But I find openness very freeing and, excuse me, but God made real people, not fake ones. This isn't to be confused with the fact that I'm outgoing; I'm not. But once I get to know you, watch out. You may find out a little more than you wanted to know.

Indecisiveness is a problem and your creativity is not in keeping with your potential. Being a pragmatist, you downplay this aspect of yourself and focus on the more immediate, the more obvious and the more functional. The indecisiveness part made me laugh. If you only KNEW (get to know me better and you would - trust me!) I am the most indecisive person in the world. Well, next to my mom, anyway. A word of advice: don't ever go shopping with us. You might not make it past the first store.
As for the creativity not keeping up with my potential, this is a huge confirmation for me. I always KNEW I was destined for greatness (I AM a daughter of the King, you know). Lot's of creative brain cells and wanna-do's inside my head but I DO tend to focus on the immediate. And, immediately, we need to pay the bills. So I go for the most functional instead of diving in to the creative fiction I long to write. But even when I do get some extra time to work on my fiction, I have the worst time deciding which story to work on....

So, you see what I mean? DEAD ON analyzation (is that a word?). So, while I was thrilled to find out I do, indeed, have a brain, I was even MORE excited to see that it is working. Isn't it cool how God made each of us so unique? Each with our own personality, our own design. I just think it's cool and awe-inspiring. God is amazing!

Okay, you've read through my results (if you didn't, don't tell me) and now it's your turn to try the Brain Probe and see how accurate this test is. Come back post your results.

Have fun!

BRAIN TEST