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What is introverted fiction?

​Author Corinne Dyvis first began using the #ownvoices hashtag on Twitter in 2015.  She used it to indicate an author from an oppressed population writing a story with a protagonist from that same oppressed group.  For example, a person of color might write a protagonist of color to provide this perspective.  The #ownvoices hashtag is no longer being used, but there is still a strong movement to encourage writers to write protagonists that share their identities.

Introverted fiction aspires to join this movement, albeit cautiously.  With so much misinformation out there about introverts, it would be understandable for people to claim to be writing introvert stories when they are actually extraverts writing with extravert protagonists.  But this movement has great potential to encourage publishers to publish introvert voices, and also to encourage the reading public to be more open to introvert perspectives.  
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If we want to make this work in favor of type justice, we need to follow a few ground rules.
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How do we know if someone is writing introverted fiction?
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In order to preserve the introvert fiction label for genuine introverts, it would be ideal if people studied about introversion beforehand.  That way they could make sure they are actually introverts.  In addition, we can also tell if someone is writing an introvert protagonist by using the following criteria:
  • Introverted protagonists clearly show their dominant introverted functions in the narration.  For example, an introverted feeling type will be constantly preoccupied with morality, values, and doing the right thing.  An introverted intuitive type will come to flashes of insight after long periods of contemplation.
  • Introverted protagonists solve problems in introverted ways.  For instance, they are less likely to fight their way through obstacles, to use political intrigue, or to do physical feats of valor.  Instead, expect to see an introverted protagonist using the powers of listening, logic, research, remembering, or personal moral conviction to overcome challenges.
  • There’s probably a strong focus on internal conflict.  While there will probably also be dramatic external conflicts, like battles, mysteries, or revolutions, the focus of the story will be on the character’s internal growth, moral dilemmas, coming to self-understanding, or facing some awful truth that changes how the character sees themselves and the universe.  Introverted characters won’t want to make the plot happen without first coming to grips with who they are and their place in the world.
  • A feeling of alienation and awkwardness.  Expect introverted protagonists to be different from the mainstream: more mystical, more contemplative, more broody, more alone, more quiet, more bookish.  They will avoid most high-stimulation environments, will feel out of place in most social settings, and will be very conflict-averse.  They aren’t the kinds of characters who will come right up to an enemy and challenge them to a duel, or who would give a smooth speech with political overtones on a televised stage.
  • Passivity.  The classic antihero is a great place to start here: introvert heroes don’t want to be heroes, don’t want to make the plot happen, and certainly don’t want to move out of the familiar to the scary unknown.  Sure, they will daydream and write and think and challenge the status quo in their heads, but it will take a lot for them to go from reading in their rooms to leading a revolution.  And even if they are leading a revolution, they will probably just be swept up and not know what’s going on.
What are some examples of introvert protagonists?

Here are a few possibilities that come to mind:
  • Frodo Baggins (Lord of the Rings)
  • Samwise Gamgee (Lord of the Rings)
  • Belle (Beauty and the Beast)
  • Abed Nadir (Community)
  • Fanny Price (Mansfield Park)
  • Hari Seldon (Foundation)
  • Emperor Leto II (Dune)
  • Madoka Kaname (Madoka Magica)
  • Any protagonist in H.P. Lovecraft’s fiction
  • Samwell Tarly (A Song of Ice and Fire)
  • Klaus Baudelaire (A Series of Unfortunate Events)
  • Shinji Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

I could provide some other guesses, but I want to be careful not to give false positives.  For example, I believe that Kaybree Andresdatter Staalvoss from my Kaybree versus the Angels series is an introvert (a NiFe type, or INFJ).  However, I recognize that I wasn’t aware of the extravert/introvert difference when I wrote the books between 2011 and 2015.  She has some qualities of introverts, such as a preoccupation with morality, a feeling of alienation, being conflict averse, seeking her identity, and solving problems through moral reflection and introspection.  However, she also solves problems by transforming into a magical girl and fighting supernatural creatures with punches, kicks, swords, and lightning bolts.  (Maybe that’s her inferior Se.)  However, I deliberately wrote Aurora from my forthcoming ​Aurora Lightwalker series as an introvert (FiNe type or INFP), so I can say she is an introverted protagonist with much more confidence.

There are also other examples of fictional characters who are frequently called introverts on other websites, but who clearly live in extraverted ways (snappy comebacks, athletic prowess, good looks and charm) and solve problems like an extravert (fight, sneak, talk their way out of trouble, intrigue, persuade, lead).  So when talking about introverted protagonists, I’d like to see us move the conversation away from listing off characters we’ve seen described as introverts on other websites.  Let’s move toward instead using an understanding of introversion and the guidelines listed above to identify real introverted fictional characters.
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