I’ve mentioned that I subscribe to Wordplay: The Writing Life of K.M. Weiland. The other day, she posted a valuable post that I feel would benefit all writers.
In my own personal journey of writing and publication, I’ve often wondered if I had enough talent to ever move forward. After studying and reading books, attending workshops, conferences and joining a writing group; I found, that yes, talent helps, but you can learn the craft if you are serious and open to what’s taught.
If you have the same questions, I’d strongly recommend reading her article that answers those questions. Click here to read her post: Wordplay: The Writing Life of K.M. Weiland.
I also enjoy her informative, down to earth, encouraging support and information she provides. I’d love to hear your opinion.
Keep writing my friends!
Until Next Time…
Good post Jen. Personally I like the quote by E. L. Konigsberg, “A great many people have talent, but the difference between being a person of talent and being a writer is the ability to apply the seat of your pants to the seat of your chair, and finish.”
I couldn’t agree more. I have talked to many people who say they want to write and it stops right there. All they do is ‘say’ they want to write. Few do. The above, to me, is just another way of saying you have to have passion.
Thank you Jen. I visited the Wordplay blog and subscribed. I think I have the right sort of brain to be a writer, enough interest, and good basic writing skills. But I need to keep working on the craft so I can be published and paid again. It’s been awhile. I’m learning what I can from blogs and websites, I belong to a writers’ group, and now I need to buckle down and do the work. It’s a whole new ball game with all the social media knowledge that’s needed now. I need to learn time management for writers!
Thanks for visiting Susan. Keep writing, we are all on the path together, which helps I think.
I hope you enjoy and learn from her as much as I do. She has a lot of great information. Thanks for stopping by and sharing!
Great post, Jen!!! And great responses too. Love the quotes by Laura!
I love the honesty in this line: ‘There are many ways to be a writer. You can be like me—self-conscious, a little learning-disabled, with a poor memory for details—and still do some awesome work.’
It is so easy to relate to honesty.
Thanks for the intro to K.M. Weiland
Thanks for visiting and commenting! I really like K.M.’s site. She is always kind to visit mine as well. Have a wonderful weekend!
Good thoughts to ponder here. I guess a writer needs both, the wild horse of the mind inspired by deeper layers of the psyche, and the killer instinct to capture what is discovered, connect it up, and shape it into meaning, which amounts to taming the horse. My horse must run free at times, or its heart forgets to soar.
Thanks for liking my blog, Jen. I’m sitting at my desk in Surrey, UK watching the never-ending RAIN and composing my next post – on the imagination 🙂
Thank you for visiting. I went back to your blog, and subscribed by email. I thought I had earlier today, but I’d missed it. I got it done 🙂
I love the rain. I live in Oregon and we have about 8 months of rainy season. The rain helps me write.
I look forward to reading your next post.
Thanks, Jen. I put up another post, only manage one in a week. The rain helped 🙂 Today it was rare sunshine and … gardening. Bliss.
Craft or talent reminds me of the nature vs nurture discussions. In my short life I have seen many talented people fail simply because they didn’t take time to build upon their natural abilities or be willing to accept constructive criticism. American businessman Robert Half is quoted with saying, “Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy.”
Some other favorite quotes about talent I have saved:
“Every artist was first an amateur.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Talent is a wonderful thing, but it won’t carry a quitter. ”
― Stephen King, Duma Key
“The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.”
― Émile Zola
“Your talent determines what you can do. Your motivation determines how much you are willing to do. Your attitude determines how well you do it.”
― Lou Holtz
“But talent—if you don’t encourage it, if you don’t train it, it dies. It might run wild for a little while, but it will never mean anything. Like a wild horse. If you don’t tame it and teach it to run on track, to pace itself and bear a rider, it doesn’t matter how fast it is. It’s useless.”
― Elizabeth Hand, Illyria
“Talent is only a starting point.”
― Irving Berlin
“Practice makes the master.”
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind
And just for you, Jen: “Talent is extremely common. What is rare is the willingness to endure the life of the writer.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
Laura- Thanks for visiting 🙂 Those quotes were awesome! I’ve read that the other element assisting people in success is passion. Have a good one 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing the post! I’m glad you enjoyed it. As you’ve probably already guessed, I heartily concur with the importance of studying the craft any way possible, including books, blogs, workshops, you name it!
Great post Jen! And very good advice.I believe inside each person lies an instinct for creativity just waiting to burst out. Acquiring knowledge in any given craft is always of great value. When it comes your writing, keep on keeping on! 🙂
Well said! Thank you so much for sharing and visiting! Have a wonderful day.
The more you write, the better you get as a storyteller. Yes, you’re right: writing is a craft that can be learned. Never doubt yourself: You are on the right path to become a professional writer.
Thank you very much Darlene for your encouraging words!
You know how I learned how to write for television 60-minute shows? I read every episodic script I could get my hands on. I made sure I read the best written scripts of the best series – the ones that had been nominated for or won Emmys. Study writing that works, and that is good. You’ll learn structure that way. It applies to any genre of writing, not just screenwriting. If you want to write plays, read every play you can get your hands on. If you want to write fiction, well…you know what to do 😉 Meanwhile, keep writing, re-writing, and wiriting some more. That’s how you’ll develop your own personal style, your own unique voice. You’re already on your way, Jen. Your voice here at your website is wonderful, and special. You’re on your way…
Thanks for sharing, Jen. Those thoughts have often crossed my mind.