the INF interview #1: Amanda Linehan
I am delighted to kick off a new INF interview series with Amanda Linehan.
Each month, I'll be sharing an interview with an inspirational-yet-relatable INFP or INFJ.
I hope you enjoy INF interview number #1 with author, Amanda Linehan :)
Hey Amanda! So tell us, in 2-3 sentences, who you are :)
I am a fiction writer and an indie/self-published author who is also very interested in personal growth, psychology and spirituality.
What's your Myers-Briggs personality type?
I'm an INFP.
From which part of the world do you hail?
I live in Frederick, Maryland and have spent most of my life in Maryland.
What were your teenage years like?
I was fairly quiet and enjoyed playing sports and being physically active, reading, hanging out in my room listening to music and going with friends to the movies and to the mall. Malls were a lot more popular then. :) I went to college after I finished high school and was a psychology major/sociology minor, which I really enjoyed.
What were your 20s like, or what have they been like so far?
After college, I completed a Masters degree in Social Work, then I worked a lot. I had a day job, of course, and then I started writing and then a little later started self-publishing on the side. I got into yoga in my mid-twenties, was into rock climbing a little bit, and really started to enjoy cooking. This was also when I got really interested in personal growth and spirituality.
When did you first realise that you were an introvert? How did it happen?
It was probably during college when I was studying psychology. In a class called "Personality" we discussed the Myers-Briggs and we may have taken a non-official test, but I don't quite remember. I think this was when I first found out I was an introvert and an INFP, although, it didn't make that much of an impression on me at the time. I became more interested in introversion after I had completed school and was working full time. I read a book called The Introvert Advantage by Marti Olsen Laney that I really enjoyed.
What's your current day-job?
Self published fiction author. I quit my job in February 2017.
When did you first start writing - and why?
I began blogging in 2008 after reading a number of blogs that I enjoyed. I wanted to give it a shot myself. I began writing fiction in 2009 just to see what it was like, and completed my first novel during NaNoWriMo in 2009. Haven't looked back since. :)
What one thing are your most proud of so far?
The books I've published. I had to learn the publishing and book producing process. It was quite a learning curve.
Is there anything you're working on outside of work?
I've been drawing and coloring recently. Not exactly a project, but a new hobby that I enjoy.
What's been the greatest struggle you've faced?
Probably, coming to see the advantages of introversion/high sensitivity while also accepting my limitations based on those things. I feel fairly balanced with my introversion and high sensitivity these days.
Who are your heroes? Any why?
S.E. Hinton, Christopher Pike, J.K Rowling, Tom Robbins and Ursula K. LeGuin - These are my favorite authors.
Favourite songs? Movies? Books? (1-3 of each would be great)
Songs - Billie Jean by Michael Jackson, Movies - The Karate Kid, Books - Rumble Fish by S.E. Hinton
Are you a goal-setter or a go-with-the-flower? What's your process here?
A little bit of both, but more toward the go-with-the-flow. I like to use my intuition to choose directions and pick activities to work on. I recently published an article on my blog about the process I use -> Sticking To The Plan vs Going With The Flow.
What's your personal recipe for happiness?
Be flexible. Adjust to what is. Take your luck as it comes.
As an INF, what qualities do you think you and other INF (Ps & Js) share?
Intuition really comes up for me here. I like using my intuition to "feel my way along" in life rather than being more analytical.
What piece of advice would you give to other INFPs & INFJs?
There are advantages in introversion and sensitivity, but you may have to look a little harder for them.
Is there anything you’d tell your younger self?
Don't worry so much. It's not going to help anything.
Do you have a favourite quote?
"Sometimes I dread the truth of the lines I say. But the dread must never show." - Vivien Leigh
Where can folks find & connect with you online?
My website is: http://amandalinehan.com/. I have a blog, a newsletter and social media links you can find on there.
Great, thanks Amanda! And thanks for being the INF club's 1st ever interviewee 🙌🏼
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