Were You Meant to Be a Writer? Take This Quick Psychology-Backed Test

Have you ever wondered if writing is something you were truly meant to do?

You feel the pull. Stories bubble up inside you at random moments. You notice tiny details in everyday life that other people miss. You get lost in books for hours. Yet you also wonder: Is this just a hobby, or is there something deeper here? Do I actually have what it takes to be a real writer?

You’re not alone in asking these questions. Millions of people feel called to write but question whether they have the “right” traits or personality for it.

The good news? Psychology has studied creative writers for decades. Researchers have identified specific, measurable traits that successful writers tend to share — and they’re not what most people expect.

In this post, you’ll take a quick, science-backed test based on real psychological research. Then we’ll break down what each trait actually means, why it matters, and how you can develop it even if you don’t have it naturally.

Ready? Let’s find out if you were meant to be a writer.

The “Were You Meant to Be a Writer?” Test

Answer each question honestly with Yes, Sometimes, or No. Give yourself 2 points for Yes, 1 point for Sometimes, and 0 for No. Total your score at the end.

1. Do you have a rich, active imagination and often daydream or get lost in made-up stories and “what if” scenarios?

2. Are you highly observant — noticing small details, people’s micro-expressions, or the way light falls on objects?

3. Do you feel emotions deeply (both your own and other people’s) and sometimes get overwhelmed by them?

4. Do you love reading and lose track of time when you’re in a good book?

5. When you face rejection or criticism, do you tend to keep going anyway (even if it hurts)?

6. Are you curious about almost everything and constantly asking questions or researching random topics?

7. Do you enjoy solitude and often feel most creative when you’re alone?

8. Have you always felt a little “different” from most people around you — like you see the world through a unique lens?

Scoring:

- 13–16 points: Strong natural writer traits — you were very likely meant for this.

- 9–12 points: Solid writer potential — you have many of the core traits and can absolutely succeed with practice.

- 5–8 points: You have some natural gifts and can develop the rest — many successful writers started here.

- 0–4 points: You may not have the classic “writer personality,” but grit and deliberate practice can still make you an excellent writer.

Now let’s dive into the real science behind each trait so you understand why they matter.

The True Psychology of Writers: What the Research Actually Shows

1. Extremely High Openness to Experience

Psychology’s Big Five personality model has been studied for decades. Creative writers consistently score in the 97th percentile for Openness to Experience — one of the highest of any profession.

Openness is the trait most strongly linked to creativity, imagination, and artistic achievement. Writers high in this trait love novelty, complex ideas, and aesthetic experiences. Research (including studies from the American Psychological Association) shows that high Openness leads to richer characters and more original stories.

2. Deep Empathy and Emotional Sensitivity

Successful writers tend to score higher in empathy and often have traits of Highly Sensitive People (HSP). They feel emotions more intensely and can easily step into other people’s perspectives. This is exactly why their characters feel so real. Studies show that writers who score higher in empathic concern create more complex, interesting characters that readers connect with on a deeper level.

3. Productive Neuroticism

Many great writers score moderately high in Neuroticism (emotional sensitivity and tendency toward negative emotions). This isn’t a bad thing — it provides raw emotional material. Research shows literary quality often correlates with this trait up to a certain point. It gives writers the depth and emotional honesty that readers crave.

4. Grit and Perseverance

Angela Duckworth’s groundbreaking research on grit shows that passion + long-term perseverance predicts success better than talent or IQ in many fields — including writing. The writers who succeed aren’t necessarily the most naturally gifted; they’re the ones who keep showing up after rejection. (J.K. Rowling was rejected 12 times. Stephen King had dozens of rejections early on.)

5. Ability to Enter Flow States

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s famous research on flow shows that writers who regularly enter this state of deep absorption produce their best work. Flow happens when the challenge perfectly matches your skill level — and writers who train themselves to access it consistently write faster and with more joy.

6. Curiosity and Love of Learning

Writers are naturally curious. They read widely, ask endless questions, and collect ideas like magpies. This constant input fuels original output.

7. Comfort with Solitude

Writing is largely a solitary act. Writers who enjoy and even crave alone time tend to thrive because they can focus deeply without needing constant social stimulation.

What If Your Score Isn’t Perfect?

Here’s the most important truth:

No one is born a finished writer.

Even if your score was lower, these traits can be developed. Openness can be expanded through new experiences. Empathy grows through reading and listening. Grit is a muscle you strengthen every time you sit down and write anyway.

Many bestselling authors didn’t start with sky-high natural talent — they started with passion and built the rest through deliberate practice.

Your Final Answer

If you scored high, trust that pull you feel. The world needs your unique voice and stories.

If you scored lower, that’s okay too. The fact that you’re even taking this test and reading this far shows you already have the most important trait of all: the desire to write.

Writing isn’t about being “meant” for it in some mystical way. It’s about choosing it every single day and becoming the kind of person who shows up for the page.

You don’t need permission. You don’t need a perfect score. You just need to keep going.

So tell me in the comments:

What was your score? Which trait surprised you the most?

And more importantly — what’s one small thing you’re going to do this week to honor the writer inside you?

I read every comment and love connecting with fellow writers on this journey.

You were meant to tell stories.

Now go tell them.

Keep writing. Your voice matters.