I’ve become a frequent online quiz taker lately. Many times the website will lure me in with titles like: Only 4% of the population can pass test! Or, answer these questions and we’ll tell you which emotion is dominate.

I took their quizzes and noted that they said about me. I am always left wondering how close to the truth they are.

Just like determining what traits your character will have when crafting a story, I found myself piecing these traits together to see if they fit me. Let’s see how well the quizzes did…

My dominate emotion: is amazement. I live for new experiences and have a thirst or knowledge. I am constantly seeking out adventures in order to learn and grow. I think this was NOT true of me in younger days – staying safe impeded me from experiencing more. Now, however, I am making up for it by taking classes and trekking to places to try my hand at photography when I’m not writing.

I’m also told that I depend more on feeling and intuition to get by than cold hard facts. I’m a great communicator and I understand what makes people tick. I’d be great as a counselor or therapist or something creative like a writer because I’m a kind empathetic person. I think this quiz had me pegged. I’ve been told by someone else that I am an empath. It also nailed the writer in me wanting to be creative. But I have other creative outlets.

The television character I am most like is Mary Richards from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Being social for me is just a way of life and I always seek to be admired and liked. Another bingo on this quiz. After all, who doesn’t want to be Mary Richards (or her BFF Rhoda)?

In addition to my dominate emotion – my most defining characteristics are Analytical, Skeptical and determined to win. Here I’d say. it got two out three right. While I like win, I don’t feel that I’m competitive. Do I analyze and scoff at things? Yes I do. I go with my feelings once I’m done analyzing.

Am I Old School or New School? I am both. I shamelessly pick what I like from each and make it mine.

So what did I learn about myself?

I already knew of my emotions and analytical traits. I also knew of my creative side. So I didn’t necessarily receive an ‘Ah, ha! Moment’ from all of this, but I did feel reaffirmed by the answers. I try to use these traits when creating characters readers can relate to. Like an empath, I step inside my character’s head – and believe me, sometimes you don’t want to be there for any length of time, or even at all – depending on the character. From there I’m able grasp what are their traits and backstory.

So in the pursuit of defining myself I think I’m most like my stories, I am a work in progress.