Is Writing a Talent or Skill? Here’s My Take

The age-old question, “Is writing a talent or a skill?” often comes up in discussion within the Writing Community of Twitter. It’s a question that bothers me for a few reasons. The idea behind InkWell Spills is that “Everyone’s got a story to tell.”

So I thought long and hard before I wrote this post. My philosophy is that if you put words on paper, you’re a writer. But I also believe that not all writing is good, and even less of it is great.

You then might wonder, can anyone write a great story? Well, there are good writers, and there are good stories. One is not necessarily dependent upon the other. But when a good writer creates a good story, it becomes a great story. And when a great writer takes the time to develop a great story, that my friends, is where masterpieces come from.

So the question remains, is writing a talent that is inherent? Is one simply born with the skill to craft the written word? Or is writing a skill that can be developed over time? My answer is a compliment of both. I don’t think it’s so much a nature vs. nurture situation. But more of nature *and* nurture working together.

Let me clarify. I do think that writing is a talent. But I also think that it’s a skill. Some people are born with a passion for writing, some are not. Some people can write without any effort at all. Others have to work really hard at it. But no one is born with the ability to write a masterpiece. That takes time. It takes dedication. You must learn and relearn, try and fail, and try again.

I’ll say that again, no one is born with the ability to write a masterpiece.

While I do think some people have a natural inclination for writing, I also think if someone wants to write a great story, they can do it. It’s all about your passion. It’s about your willingness to put the time and effort into developing your craft. Do you love to write? Then you are a writer. Do you want to be a better writer? Of course, you do. So then write more. The best way to become a great writer is to first be a terrible writer.

My first story was about a “little boy named Jimmy” who made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with his mom. I don’t think that story will be flying off the Barnes & Noble shelves. But the story I’m working on now might just do that. The difference is, I’ve written a ton of different things between my peanut butter and jelly sandwich and the story I’m writing now.

So, the answer to the question “Is writing a talent or a skill?” is both. It’s unequivocally both. It doesn’t matter how much talent you’re born with. If you develop your writing skills enough, you can be a great writer. I believe it, and you should too. So stop wasting your time on the internet and get back to writing.

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