Comments on: Creative Writing: Skills vs. Talent

By: Fostering Creativity for Better Writing : Writing Forward

Fostering Creativity for Better Writing : Writing Forward — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:01:55 +0000

[...] Here’s an age-old question: Is creative writing an art or a craft? [...]

By: Twitted by writerdad

Twitted by writerdad — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:05:30 +0000

[...] This post was Twitted by writerdad [...]

By: Creative Writing: Fun vs. Work : Writing Forward

Creative Writing: Fun vs. Work : Writing Forward — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:56:18 +0000

[...] They often believe that artistic success is borne of pure talent and that hard work or honing their creative writing skills are contrary to such a [...]

By: What is Creative Writing? : Writing Forward

What is Creative Writing? : Writing Forward — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:53:51 +0000

[...] or something like an encyclopedia article qualify as creative? What about letters or emails? Is creative writing determined by the level of skill versus [...]

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:53:07 +0000

In Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones, there is a chapter that talks about becoming a master. Natalie states that it takes 10,000 hours of practice in any skill, trade, or craft to become a true and absolute master. So the fastest way is to write as frequently as possible. If you wrote for three hours a day, it would take about 10 years to become a master. Now, you don’t have to become a master before you start getting published or producing high quality work. I would think that reading should make up a considerable number of those hours. In any case, writing requires skills that must be learned. As for writing as a career, I think it must be a passion first.

By: Hiren Shah

Hiren Shah — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:42:49 +0000

Very interesting. The issue is what if the person with the right talent learns the wrong skills or fails to make a right choice. How do you make him a writer in the fastest possible time? I am one myself- a writer by spontaneous inclination who strayed in the corporate world. It is not easy to switch professions. I decided to do something by writing about it- http://mypyp.wordpress.com/.

Most important thing is that skills should be imparted according to natural talent and passion like in your case. Unfortunately, too much stuffing of facts of different kinds can interfere with what you want to do- Choose your career not on the basis of what you know but who you are.

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:10:54 +0000

Thanks for your feedback. The best results probably come from a good mixture of talent and skill

By: Lawrence Scanlan

Lawrence Scanlan — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:08:57 +0000

Certainly a debatably subject that raises any different opinions. The article speaks straight to the point though and makes a notable indication in the importance of having both talent and mechanical writing skills in order to be a truly accomplished writer.

Whether talent is learned, inherent, innate or otherwise obtained is another issue. It certainly takes both though, to write of the most venerable pulchritude. No doubt in that.
Lawrence Scanlan´s last blog ..WS: Trip to FeilongShan

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 02:07:50 +0000

Glenn, while I agree – there are lots of writers who possess skill but lack in talent who have carved out successful careers as journalists, novelists, and even bloggers. I think that ambition or passion might be able to steer a writer toward success regardless of talent. However, those writers who are dripping with talent definitely reign supreme

By: Glenn Murray

Glenn Murray — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:18:24 +0000

Quality writing definitely is a combination of both skill and ability. And for that reason, I disagree with @Suzanne Lieurance. IMHO, for aspiring writers, ability is the clincher. You can learn skill. You can't learn ability. You either have the gift, or you don't. You can learn all the rules and techniques you like, but if you don't have the flow, it'll never feel the same to readers. It'll be as clear as the difference between a native speaker of a language and one with an accent. Glenn Murrays last blog post..It’s not your length that matters, it’s how much they like it!

By: Middle Zone Musings » What I Learned From 2008 - Melissa Donovan

Middle Zone Musings » What I Learned From 2008 - Melissa Donovan — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:00:50 +0000

[...] – “Writing: Skill vs. Talent” asks whether learned skill or natural talent is more important to writing and other creative [...]

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:54:40 +0000

Suzanne, I agree wholeheartedly. While it’s great to have talent, it is hard work and dedication that will ultimately result in success. Talent certainly helps though!