0:01

Welcome to the Helping Writers Become

0:03

Authors podcast. I'm K.M.

0:06

Weiland, and I am here to take

0:08

you deep with story theory, writing techniques,

0:10

and the incredible wisdom of story. I

0:13

believe story is the greatest power on

0:15

this earth, and that as

0:18

writers, we carry the torch of

0:20

wielding that power with responsibility, passion,

0:22

and skill. There is no such

0:25

thing as just a story. Today,

0:27

it is my honor and my purpose

0:30

to help you write your

0:32

best story, astound the world, and

0:34

maybe change your life. Hello

0:39

and welcome. We're listening to

0:41

Enneagram Types for Writers, exploring

0:43

the strengths and weaknesses of

0:45

Types Five through Nine. Welcome

0:50

back to our journey through the

0:52

Enneagram Types for Writers. Last

0:55

week, we talked about how

0:57

the complexities of the Enneagram

0:59

provide valuable insights that can

1:02

enhance self-awareness and empower your

1:04

writing journey. The

1:06

distinctive traits and varying gifts

1:08

that define different writers' approaches

1:10

to the craft create

1:13

a profound impact on the world of

1:15

storytelling. In part one,

1:17

we navigated the intricate landscape of

1:19

Types One through Four, unraveling

1:22

the unique strengths and weaknesses

1:25

that shape each personality's creative

1:27

endeavors. Now, as we

1:29

embark on the second part of this

1:31

exploration, we will delve into the rich

1:34

tapestry of Types Five through

1:36

Nine. From the

1:38

introspective investigator to the harmonious

1:40

peacemaker, each type brings

1:43

its own shadings to the palette

1:45

of writerly personalities. Please

1:48

see last week's episode in the

1:50

accompanying post for a general overview

1:52

of the Enneagram and comments about

1:54

the information provided in this little

1:56

series. You can also find a list

1:58

of some of the posts I've written about. about the

2:00

Enneagram as well as books I recommend and

2:02

a couple podcasts that are great as well.

2:05

Alright, type 5 as a

2:08

writer, the investigator. The

2:11

five's advice is avarice. The

2:14

five's virtue is non-attachment. The

2:16

core lie the five believes is it's

2:19

not okay to be comfortable in the

2:21

world and the core truth

2:23

about the five is your needs are not

2:25

a problem. Also

2:28

referred to as the observer, five's

2:30

are characterized by a profound intellectual

2:33

curiosity and a need to be

2:35

understood. Five's seek knowledge

2:37

as a way to navigate the complexities

2:39

of the world and they often retreat

2:42

to their inner thoughts for

2:44

a sense of security. These

2:46

individuals are perceptive, analytical and

2:48

enjoy delving into intricate subjects.

2:50

While five's excel in their

2:53

capacity for deep thinking they

2:55

may struggle with social interactions

2:57

and may withdraw when feeling

2:59

overwhelmed. Their desire

3:01

for autonomy and the accumulation

3:03

of knowledge contributes to their

3:05

strengths as thinkers and problem

3:08

solvers making them valuable contributors

3:10

to various fields. Overcoming

3:13

the weaknesses of the five. The

3:17

five's love of detailed information

3:19

can send them down endless

3:21

rabbit holes of researching, world

3:23

building, outlining and revising. They

3:26

may find that their favorite part of the

3:28

writing process is the behind-the-scenes work that sets

3:30

up the story rather than the writing itself.

3:33

This can also lead them to overvalue

3:35

their research or world creation. Not

3:38

only can this lead to tedious

3:40

storytelling, it can also rob their

3:42

stories of necessary subtext and subtlety

3:45

in exchange for an overabundance

3:48

of contextual information. As

3:50

one of these three head-based types along

3:53

with the six and the seven, fives

3:56

are drawn to the mental challenges of

3:58

writing fiction but can sometimes struggle

4:00

with the emotional awareness or

4:02

vulnerability to create deeply realized

4:04

characters. Their

4:07

writing styles can sometimes come across

4:09

as sparse or overly didactic. Due

4:12

to their often justified emphasis on their

4:15

own intelligence, they can sometimes

4:17

hamper their ability to grow through a

4:19

belief that they know better than others

4:21

who might advise them or offer constructive

4:24

criticism. Creating

4:27

the Strengths of the Five Fives

4:30

are particularly well suited to the

4:32

introverted introspection of the writing life.

4:35

They are usually well read

4:37

and contemplative and as a

4:39

result extremely intelligent. Their

4:41

aptitude for pattern recognition and problem

4:44

solving allows them to grasp the

4:46

deeper principles of story theory and

4:49

to craft well structured and effective

4:51

plots. They put their tremendous

4:53

discipline for the finer details of

4:55

research and plotting to good use

4:58

in crafting realized stories of intellectual

5:00

depth and nuance. Emanently

5:03

practical, fives are able to

5:05

handle criticism and the ups and downs of

5:07

a writing career with relative equanimity. Particularly

5:10

when healthy, they are rarely

5:12

discouraged by other people's negative

5:15

opinions. They have the

5:17

capacity to receive and to

5:19

offer critiques as an impersonal

5:21

information to be accepted or

5:23

rejected according to its accuracy

5:25

and effectiveness rather than its

5:27

emotional charge. They

5:29

can be among the most effortlessly generous

5:32

with their time and energy in helping

5:34

other writers as they genuinely

5:36

enjoy the nitty gritty tasks that

5:38

other types often find onerous. Several

5:43

examples of fives as writers

5:45

include Emily Dickinson, Agatha Christie,

5:48

James Joyce, Stephen King, Ursula

5:51

K. Le Guin, Cormac McCarthy,

5:54

Vladimir Nabokov, Graham

5:56

Greene, Patrick O'Brien, Ian

5:58

McEwen, and Clive Barker. Type

6:01

6 as a writer, the

6:03

loyalist. The 6's

6:06

vice is fear. The 6's

6:08

virtue is courage. The

6:10

core lie the 6 believes is it's

6:13

not okay to trust yourself. A

6:15

core truth about the 6 is

6:18

you are safe. Also referred

6:20

to as the skeptic, 6's

6:22

are characterized by a fundamental need

6:25

for security and guidance. Individuals

6:28

of this type seek safety and

6:30

support in their environments, often displaying

6:32

loyalty to trusted institutions or authority

6:35

figures. 6's are diligent,

6:37

responsible, and have a keen sense

6:39

of potential risks. While

6:42

their cautious nature serves to protect

6:44

them, it can also lead to

6:46

anxiety and doubt. 6's

6:48

may wrestle with a fear of uncertainty

6:50

and may rely on external structures for

6:53

reassurance. Despite their

6:55

inner conflicts, they contribute a

6:57

sense of responsibility and thoroughness

6:59

to group dynamics acting as

7:01

reliable team members. Overcoming

7:04

the weaknesses of the 6. The

7:08

6's core vice is fear,

7:11

which generally manifests as a

7:13

blanket anxiety that requires them

7:15

to check and recheck their

7:17

best options. As

7:19

writers, this can lead to

7:22

chronic indecision and uncertainty about

7:24

everything from signing with the

7:26

right agent to choosing the

7:28

right characters for a particular narrative. 6's

7:31

are manifestly aware of the larger systems

7:33

that work in the world and the

7:36

context they create. They use

7:38

this awareness to seek out the

7:40

most reliable and trustworthy authorities and

7:42

sources of information. They

7:44

respect the rules and wish to follow

7:47

them, but can get so hung up

7:49

on listening to outside sources that

7:51

they lose touch with their own instincts about

7:53

what is right for their stories. 6's

7:57

can suffer from analysis paralysis,

7:59

particularly when starting out. They

8:01

believe they need to know everything about

8:03

writing before they can sit down to

8:06

begin their own stories. Not

8:08

only is this impossible, but as

8:10

their research begins revealing conflicting opinions

8:13

from these so-called authorities, they can

8:15

grow frustrated, jaded, and even

8:17

more anxious about not knowing how to do it

8:19

right. As one of

8:22

these three other referencing types, along

8:24

with the three and the nine,

8:26

and in opposition to the six

8:28

self-referencing types, sixes can

8:31

lose touch with their own inner vision

8:33

and wisdom for their story, sacrificing

8:36

creativity for an obsession with

8:38

identifying and following the rules.

8:41

Ironically, this can then enhance anxieties

8:43

that they are not original and

8:45

have nothing new to say in

8:47

their stories anyway. Enhancing

8:51

the Strengths of the Six I

8:54

think of sixes as the salt of the earth.

8:57

At their healthiest, they

8:59

are incredibly hardworking, practical,

9:02

responsible, and community-oriented. Nobody

9:04

shows up and puts in the work like a

9:07

six. Their awareness of the

9:09

big picture and their need to

9:11

research and test which authorities are

9:13

truly worth following eventually

9:15

gives them a tremendous context from

9:17

which to draw conclusions and make

9:20

choices. They are

9:22

usually well-educated and well-informed, even if they

9:24

may not always be fully aware of

9:26

the extent of their own knowledge, and

9:29

the choices they make for their stories are

9:32

usually extremely conscious. They are good

9:34

with details, which allows them to make

9:36

informed decisions for their plots and

9:38

to create characters of beautiful verisimilitude.

9:42

Because of their innate awareness of

9:44

the interconnectedness of everything and everyone,

9:47

sixes are often drawn to create

9:50

stories of social importance. As

9:52

a head-based type, along with the five and

9:54

the seven, they are not

9:56

as inclined toward emotionality or empathy

9:58

in crafting characters. But

10:01

they care deeply about society and write

10:03

about it in a way that often

10:05

points to where and how systems may

10:07

be failing to protect and provide for

10:09

its most vulnerable members. With

10:12

fears, their core vice, no

10:14

one understands courage the way sixes

10:16

do, and they translate this not

10:19

only into characters of great bravery,

10:21

but into their own capacity to write

10:23

stories that push the edges of their

10:26

growth. Several

10:28

examples of sixes as writers

10:30

might include Mark Twain, J.R.R.

10:32

Tolkien, and John Grisham. Type

10:37

7 as a writer, the enthusiast.

10:41

The seven's vice is gluttony, the

10:44

seven's virtue is sobriety, the

10:46

core lie the seven believes is it's

10:49

not okay to depend on anyone for

10:51

anything, and the core truth about the

10:53

seven is you will be taken care

10:55

of. Also

10:58

referred to as the epicure, sevens

11:00

are characterized by a zest

11:02

for life, spontaneity, and a constant

11:04

search for excitement. Sevens

11:07

are driven by a desire to experience joy

11:09

and avoid pain, leading

11:12

them to explore diverse opportunities

11:14

and possibilities. Their optimism

11:16

and adventurous spirit make them creative

11:18

and energetic individuals who thrive on

11:20

variety. However, this pursuit

11:22

of pleasure can also be a

11:25

defense mechanism to distract from deeper

11:27

emotions or fears of boredom and

11:29

limitation. Overcoming

11:32

the weaknesses of the seven. Because

11:36

of their resistance to boredom and

11:38

the uncomfortable feelings that often masks,

11:42

sevens can struggle with distraction and

11:44

procrastination more than any other type.

11:47

They are particularly subject to shiny

11:49

object syndrome, in which new story

11:51

ideas repeatedly lure them away from

11:54

existing projects. They are

11:56

much better at starting projects than finishing them.

11:59

They may even suffer a certain indecision

12:01

about what sort of story they

12:03

want to write, experimenting with genre

12:05

after genre as a way of

12:08

satisfying their insatiable desire for new

12:10

experiences. Their

12:12

hesitance to engage with difficult

12:14

emotions or ideas can

12:17

negatively impact their writing, encouraging them

12:19

to remain on the surface rather

12:21

than going deep. Their

12:23

instinct is often to engage with stories,

12:26

both their own and other people's, as

12:28

simply entertainment. To begin

12:31

with, this appeases their never-ending search for

12:33

anything that can distract them from

12:35

confronting their own deaths. More

12:37

than that, if they are able to remain

12:40

in the mindset that a story is just

12:42

a story, it allows

12:44

them to engage with stories without

12:46

allowing them to trigger the deeper

12:48

initiations of growth available in the

12:51

experience. Enhancing

12:53

the Strengths of the Seven Another

12:57

name sometimes used for the seven is

12:59

the entertainer. Although this proclivity

13:01

often suits them to more dramatic and

13:03

performative art forms such as acting or

13:05

comedy, they are equally proficient

13:08

at bringing their talents for captivating

13:10

audiences to the page. They

13:12

are naturally among the most charismatic,

13:14

witty, and extremely fearless of all

13:16

the enneagram types. And

13:19

the stories and characters they create

13:21

have the ability to endlessly delight

13:23

audiences. Although not

13:25

as intrinsically aware of theme as

13:27

are fours or structure as are

13:30

five, sevens are natural-born

13:32

storytellers. Their storytelling instincts are

13:34

often spot-on, in part because

13:36

of how tuned in they

13:38

are to what evokes responses

13:40

from others. The

13:43

dynamos of the enneagram, seven's

13:45

energy is abundant and seemingly

13:48

never-ending. Once sevens learn

13:50

to cultivate discipline, they can put

13:52

that energy to work in manifesting

13:54

a nearly unmatched level of productivity.

13:57

This extends not just to the stories they produce.

14:00

but to their ability to market them. Loving

14:03

the spotlight as they do, sevens

14:05

are excellent at self-promotion and can

14:07

create social media content every bit

14:09

as entertaining and worthwhile as their

14:11

stories. Possible

14:14

examples of the seven as

14:16

writers include Henry Miller, Tom

14:18

Wolf, Oscar Wilde, and Douglas

14:20

Adams. Type

14:23

8 as a writer, the challenger,

14:27

the eight's vice, a lust

14:29

for intensity, the

14:31

eight's virtue, innocence. The

14:34

core lie the eight believes, it's

14:36

not okay to be vulnerable or trust

14:39

anyone. The core truth about

14:41

the eight, you will not be

14:43

betrayed. Also

14:45

known as the protector, eight's

14:47

embody strength, assertiveness, and a

14:50

natural inclination to take charge.

14:53

Eight's are characterized by their self-confidence,

14:55

determination, and a desire to protect

14:57

the vulnerable. Driven

15:00

by a fear of being

15:02

controlled or harmed, they establish

15:04

a powerful presence and confront

15:06

challenges head-on. Eight's value

15:08

authenticity and directness, creating a

15:10

straightforward and decisive approach to

15:12

life. While their leadership

15:14

qualities are admirable, eight's may face

15:16

struggles with vulnerability and a fear

15:19

of being betrayed. Despite

15:21

this, their resilience and commitment to

15:23

justice makes them formidable forces. Overcoming

15:28

the weaknesses of the eight. More

15:31

than any other type, eight's are known

15:33

for their aggressive approach to life. They

15:36

believe anything worth doing is worth

15:38

overdoing. And this can make

15:40

them more inclined to burnout into physical injuries

15:42

such as repetitive stress injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome,

15:44

etc. They can

15:47

conflate their creative urges with their

15:49

mission to positively impact or even

15:51

save the world. Like

15:53

the four, their single-minded belief in

15:55

their vision for their stories can

15:58

cause them to exempt themselves from

16:00

these. objective principles of good fiction.

16:03

Aits can struggle with subtlety and subtext,

16:05

making them prone to writing fiction that

16:07

is on the nose and that emphasizes

16:10

the story's message to the detriment of

16:12

its portrayal of theme. Although

16:15

rarely discouraged or even slowed down

16:17

by other people's negative or ambivalent

16:19

opinions, Aits can be

16:21

explosively reactive in their responses, underestimating

16:24

their effect on others. Not

16:26

only can this create unnecessary professional

16:29

enmity, but it can also

16:31

box Aits into their own blind spots,

16:33

preventing them from recognizing weaknesses and

16:35

calibrating their stories and their professionalism

16:38

so they can achieve the impact

16:40

they desire. Enhancing

16:42

the strengths of the Ait. No

16:46

one knows their own minds like Aits do.

16:48

They don't waste time or effort on anything

16:50

they are not passionate about. When

16:52

they write a story, it's because they are all

16:54

in. They write out of

16:56

their passionate intensity for life, often

16:59

drawing on their energetic experiences in

17:01

other areas and sometimes preferring

17:03

hands-on research, granting their

17:05

stories a unique sense of

17:07

authenticity and verisimilitude. As

17:10

a body type, along with the

17:12

nine and the one, Aits are

17:14

excellent at realizing physicality on the

17:16

page, whether in setting details or

17:18

the finer points of choreographing an

17:20

action scene. Even

17:22

though unhealthy Aits can sometimes

17:25

alienate others through their uncalibrated

17:27

aggression and reactivity, Aits are

17:29

deeply invested in fostering and

17:31

protecting their communities. This often

17:33

inspires them to write stories

17:35

that vividly evoke the suffering

17:37

or subjugation of certain people

17:39

while passionately advocating for them.

17:42

When healthy enough to consciously move

17:44

past their innate belief in the

17:46

rightness of their own perspectives, Aits

17:49

can access the subtlety and subjectivity

17:51

of the entire human experience,

17:54

refraining from bias and presenting humanity

17:56

in all its conflicting beauty and

17:59

ugliness. Possible examples

18:01

of writers as 8s might

18:03

include Harlan Ellison, Toni Morrison,

18:05

and Ernest Hemingway. And

18:09

type 9 as a writer, the

18:11

peacemaker. The

18:13

9's vice is sloth. The

18:16

9's virtue is right action. The

18:19

core lie the 9 believes is

18:21

it's not okay to assert yourself.

18:25

The core truth about the 9

18:27

is your presence matters. Also

18:31

referred to as the mediator,

18:33

9's are characterized by a deep desire

18:35

for inner and outer harmony. 9's

18:38

are easygoing and agreeable. They

18:40

strive to avoid conflict and seek

18:42

unity and peace in their relationships.

18:45

Driven by a fear of disconnection

18:47

and conflict, they tend to merge

18:49

with others preferences and

18:51

may struggle with asserting their own needs. 9's

18:54

value comfort, routine, and a

18:56

laid-back approach to life making

18:59

them affable and supportive individuals.

19:01

However, their avoidance of conflict

19:04

can lead to procrastination and

19:06

inertia. Despite this, 9's

19:08

contribute a calming presence emphasizing the

19:10

importance of unity and understanding

19:13

in the pursuit of a harmonious

19:15

existence. Overcoming

19:18

the weaknesses of the 9 as a

19:20

writer. 9's

19:23

core vice is sloth, which although

19:25

it points primarily to a psycho-spiritual

19:27

lethargy that prevents the 9 from

19:29

going deep with their own inner

19:31

experience, can also show

19:33

up in a struggle with procrastination.

19:36

Often this procrastination results from the

19:38

9's tendency to avoid

19:41

their own inner vision and creativity.

19:43

Without even realizing it, they can devalue

19:46

their own creative spark by focusing on

19:48

what they perceive others want them to

19:50

write or what would be of the

19:52

most value to others. On the

19:54

flip side, they can struggle to commit to

19:56

writing at all if they feel it is

19:58

not supported or wanted. by others in their

20:01

lives. Because of their

20:03

profound value of harmony, Nines

20:05

can sometimes struggle with writing conflict

20:07

or making bad things happen to

20:10

their characters. They are

20:12

not always willing to look at

20:14

the hardships or ugliness of life

20:16

which can limit their portrayal of

20:18

realistic or dimensional characters and plots.

20:23

Enhancing the Strengths of the Nine as a Writer

20:27

Nines are sometimes described as sitting

20:29

at the top of the Enneagram

20:31

circle which symbolizes their ability to

20:33

inhabit and appreciate the perspectives of

20:36

the other eight types. This

20:38

makes them the unrivaled prospectivist

20:40

of the Enneagram and

20:43

allows them to enter the minds of

20:45

characters who are wildly diverse from themselves.

20:48

Nines have a profound ability to understand

20:50

the motivations that drive almost any type

20:53

and from this they can craft

20:55

compelling characters in rock solid plots.

20:58

Healthy Nines who have accessed

21:00

the truth within themselves beyond

21:03

the voices and wishes of others will

21:05

be able to write firmly

21:07

rooted in their own authentic

21:10

experiences while still maintaining understanding

21:12

and compassion for differing others.

21:15

Their desire for peace and harmony may

21:17

prompt them to write stories that inspire

21:19

these qualities in the world around them

21:22

while drawing upon a mature understanding

21:24

that such stories must also confront

21:26

the darkness of reality on

21:29

its way to peace. Possible

21:31

examples of the Nine as a Writer

21:33

might include J.K. Rowling and

21:35

Jane Austen. Delving

21:39

into the intricacies of each

21:41

personality type unveils the

21:43

complexity of the strengths and weaknesses

21:45

that shape the creative journey. From

21:48

the principled and perfectionistic lens of the

21:51

one to the easygoing

21:53

harmony seeking of the peacemaker, each

21:56

type contributes unique gifts to the

21:58

full spectrum of the Enneagram. Whether

22:00

you resonate with the deep emotions

22:03

of the individualist, the analytical prowess

22:05

of the investigator, the loyal dedication

22:07

of the loyalist, or any of

22:09

the others, there is a wealth

22:11

of self-discovery awaiting writers on

22:14

their Enneagram journeys. So

22:17

I love talking about this, so if you'd like to

22:19

stop by my site and join in the conversation, you

22:22

can tell me, do you identify with any

22:24

of these Enneagram types for writers? And

22:29

that brings us to the end of this

22:31

episode of Helping Writers Become Authors. I

22:34

hope you'll stop by the site for a

22:36

full transcript of this episode and join in

22:38

the conversation in the comments. Tune

22:40

in for next week's episode, where we'll

22:43

continue to explore all things writing and

22:45

storytelling. If you'd like to support

22:47

the podcast, it always means a ton when

22:49

you take a moment to leave a quick

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22:54

or Spotify. To stay updated

22:56

on all the latest content I create for

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you, the best way is

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to join my mailing list

23:03

at helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/mailing list. You'll also

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immediately gain access to lots

23:08

of free resources, including my

23:10

books, Crafting Unforgettable Characters, and

23:12

Five Secrets of Story Structure.

23:15

For real-time connection with me, more writing

23:18

advice, and behind-the-scenes glimpses,

23:20

follow me on Instagram

23:22

at authorKAMWYLAND. A heartfelt

23:24

thank you to each one of you for

23:27

your support and enthusiasm, and

23:29

especially those of you who

23:31

support my work on patreon.com/KAMWYLAND.

23:34

You help make my site, this

23:37

podcast, and so many other resources

23:39

available to writers everywhere. So

23:41

until next week, keep writing, keep

23:43

dreaming, and most importantly, keep being

23:46

true to your stories. Thank

23:48

you for being part of Helping Writers

23:50

Become Authors.