If this blog were a person, it would be a firefighter!

Did you know blogs can be personality-tested? Frightening, but it’s evidently true. I found a link on a blog called Shrinking Violets Promotions to this Typealyzer.com website that crunches and scrutinizes the language style of a particular blog (at least that’s how I’m understanding it) and slaps on a Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator Label.

49 writers is a member of the category called The Mechanics: “The independent and problem-solving type. They are especially attuned to the demands of the moment and are masters of responding to challenges that arise spontaneously. They generally prefer to think things out for themselves and often avoid inter-personal conflicts. The Mechanics enjoy working together with other independent and highly skilled people and often like seeking fun and action both in their work and personal life. They enjoy adventure and risk such as in driving race cars or working as policemen and firefighters.”

Of course I had to try out other blogs. One of my favorites, editorialass, is a member of The Artists category: “The gentle and compassionate type. They are especially attuned to their inner values and what other people need.”

Aw, that sounds so nice. But it’s evidently not me — or rather, not my blog.

“Alaskan Authors,” my fellow-Alaska-book-blog run by Deb Vanasse, is also a member of The Mechanics, according to “Typealyzer.” Note that Mechanics enjoy working together — as long as it is with other independent people — according to the info above. And what do you know — I met Deb for the first time last week, at a cafe, and I felt like we did click immediately. We share many of the same goals and hopes for a future online Alaska litblog community.

Which brings me to an announcement that is slightly more serious than the personality-indicator-blog-link mentioned above. Deb and I are going to be spending the next few weeks looking at how we can merge our blogging efforts in the near future — something we’ve talked about since the very first month I started this blog — all in the name of serving the needs of Alaska writers and readers better. Just talking with Deb about new ideas and resources energized me.

In the meanwhile, please forgive me if I fall a little behind with blogposting, because I have to split my energies between planning this blog’s future — as well as doing my own writing and novel revising, of course. And surfing in search of publishing news when I’m supposed to be working. And trying to corral published writers into doing interviews. And installing programs that make my keyboard sound like an old-fashioned manual typewriter (yes, I was really goofing off today). And drinking egg nog, both with rum and without.