The Axe Head

 
An image created by Helen Sword for her Writing BASE diagnostic tool.
 
 

THE AXE HEAD

Your Axe Head profile, shared by around 5% of academic and professional writers, shows that you have given yourself relatively high ratings (6 or above) for your Behavioral and Artisanal habits but low or moderate ratings (5 or below) for your Social and Emotional habits. This profile is called the Axe Head because you combine sharp technical ability with consistent force, but may lack connection and depth in your writing practice.

Your strengths form a productive foundation:

  • You feel fairly productive as a writer, with effective routines and time management (Behavioral).

  • You have confidence in your craftsmanship and writing skills (Artisanal).

However, your writing practice shows significant challenges:

  • You seldom engage in fruitful conversations with others about your writing (Social).

  • You don't particularly enjoy writing and may even actively dislike it (Emotional).

This combination means that you effectively and skillfully produce writing but do so in isolation and with little satisfaction, which may affect the sustainability of your practice in the long run.

ACTION PLAN

To broaden the BASE upon which your writing practice is built, consider drawing on your strengths as a writer to expand your social networks and deepen your emotional connection to your writing:

  1. Use Your Productivity and Skill to Build Connections

    • Offer your expertise to others through mentoring or skill-shareing to build meaningful relationships.

    • Join communities where your reliable output and technical ability will be valued contributions.

    • Consider how selective collaboration might enhance rather than hinder the efficiency and quality of your work.

  2. Experiment with Social Writing Contexts

    • Try different forms of writing-related social engagement to find what fits with your approach.

    • Seek specific, craft-focused feedback that respects your technical abilities while offering new perspectives.

    • Expand your perspective by exploring how others find meaning and satisfaction in their writing.

  3. Reconnect with Your Writing Purpose

    • Identify the deeper values and goals that your writing serves, beyond simple productivity metrics.

    • Experiment with different writing topics, styles, or contexts that might bring more engagement.

    • Create meaningful rewards and celebrations for writing accomplishments that connect to your values.

  4. Develop an Integrated Practice That Honors Your Strengths

    • Design writing sessions that preserve your productivity and the quality of your work while introducing social and emotional elements.

    • Create boundaries that protect your effective work habits while allowing for new experiences.

    • Reflect regularly on how social connections and emotional engagement affect your writing practice.

The WriteSPACE can help you with all of these things!

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