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Violanthe · Webmaster Joined: 24 Jul 2003 Posts: 5903

Is good writing a natural born talent? Or a skill arrived at with practice and dedication?
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Nik · Senior Member Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 805 Location: UK

I've had the rare fortune to 'catch a wave' and have my Muse pour forth wondrous, flawless prose.

My usual technique is to beat a tale into submission with a zillion re-writes and recursive editing...

That's when I haven't got Writers' Block, and can't string two polysyllabic words together for almost a year...

Shadow_Ferret · Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:40 pm

I think it's a natural born talent that you need to develop through practice and dedication.

clanravencub · **Depends on the style** Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 2:21 pm

And I really do believe it does, I don't think anyone can tell me Toltsky, Joyce or Tolkien had the natural talent to write they way they did, it wasn't just a question of practise but training. I think some people have natural talent to write a certain way. But for truly great writers they train to move themselves and cross from one genre (in the broadest sense) to another. Personally I think it is our imperative to never stop experimenting and improving on our limits as to what we stylistically can achieve.

Very few "natural" writers for example are that good at clear essays or technical writing, but it is a talent very many of the same great "natural" writers do learn - take for example C.S. Lewis!

Violanthe · Webmaster Joined: 24 Jul 2003 Posts: 5903

Certainly different people seem to be naturally predisposed to certain affinities, and thus pursue different interests and develop certain abilities, but it really is practice and training that gets you there.
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clanravencub · Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 7:25 pm

AHHHH now that point I will argue with, practise is what will in the end get you there? Where commercial success? That is more about getting a break right? I mean yes obviously if you have the skills it makes it easier and also the more often and longer you do it you increase that chance of getting your break. But it has to be said that getting the break is the only way of success in a commercial sense.

Shadow_Ferret · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:15 pm

You know, I think there are just those writers who are so naturally talented, head and shoulders above everyone else, like the ones mentioned, Tolstoy, Joyce, Shakespeare, that they probably needed very little in the way of formal training.

To me, it's like a natural born athlete. Take Brett Favre for a football analogy. The guy is just very, naturally talented. In fact, he has a pretty poor work ethic, but can still throw a ball like no one else.

To me, you need the talent before you can progress. How many kids start out wanting to be Brett Favre and fail no matter how much they practice, train, and learn? Thousands.

Violanthe · Webmaster Joined: 24 Jul 2003 Posts: 5903

And you also have to consider that there are different types of talent. Some writers might have a talent that can be shaped into the writing of ground-breaking literary masterpieces. Others might have a talent that can be shaped into the writing of page-turning bestsellers. They are two different varieties of talents, and they are many others.

Most rare, however, I think is the natural talent that is so acute, it needs no development at all.
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Violet "Violanthe" Kane
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ARWZ.com: A Magazine of Alternative Reality Fiction

mephisto · Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 11:32 am

That question is raised on just about any subject. In my leadership classes, the question is often posed as to whether leadership is an inborn trait or learned. My answer here is the same as my answer there. evryone has strengths and weakensses. People learn some things easier than others, and some subjects are difficult for some to learn. I remember when I was a kid learning to play the guitar; it was very easy and it never took much effort to learn. I take ballroom and Latin dancing, and I learn faster than most other students, yet I have seen the clunkiest beginner excel with private lessons and pass me up. I remember the excruciation in high school of getting a D- in algebra because the teacher refused to fail a student who was really trying, and the satisfaction I got last year when I took algebra in college and (with much tutoring) actually EARNED a strong B. When I was younger I was not naturally "mechanically inclined" but through effort and force of will I became so.

Whether we start life with a totally blank slate or one that has a few notes already scribbled on it (or things not completely erased) is more of a metaphysical question.

Anything that a person can do, another person can learn to do. The amount of effort it will take to learn to do it well will vary, but it will always take some effort (practice) to really excel at anything. As easy as guitar always was for me, I could be a famous, world-class guitarist. So why aren't I? Because I never put in the effort. If I had I could be up there with Segovia. No matter how easy something is for you, if you don't put in the practice and effort you propbably won't reach a superior level.

At least .. that's my nickel on it.