This week, I’m taking a question asked recently on Nathan Bransford blog.
I'm curious to learn whether you think great writers are born, or it is something that is learned.
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Friday, August 15, 2008
Saturday’s Poll
I think this isn't quite a fair question. I think talent is born, but craft is taught and to be a truly great writer, you need both.
ReplyDeleteLOL, I know.
ReplyDeleteI left the option of "both" off hoping to spark some conversation about it. Although it seems rather quiet this morning. So I might as well start the conversation.
I voted for “They are born with it”
I am not a musician, nor will I ever be a good one. I know this because I took something close to 11 years of piano lessons and can not sit down at a piano and sight read or play a note.
My husband on the other hand, started piano at the age of eight and within six months his piano teacher had taught him all she knew. He was then referred to another teacher in the area and started his classical training to be become a concert pianist.
When I first married my husband, I could play some of the music in his books—a big difference was what had taken me six months to a year to learn (and hours and hours of practice), my husband could sit down and sight read it, as well as be playing the piece perfect within a half hour.
As soon as I stopped taking piano lessons, within a year, just about everything I learned vanished. I can still find Middle C, however and play some scales—so something was accomplished.
I think people like my husband are born—along with other great talents in art, in writing, in music, in photography, etc,.
That’s not to say others can’t learn the craft. I was never able to play anything except what someone else had composed. I had to follow their notes and memorize where my fingers were going next. My husband is able to write and compose music in a way that is a complete mystery to me.
Certain individuals are going to be more gifted than others. I had reached the height of what I could do on the piano. My husband has no limitation. He’s gone on to film scoring and learning other instruments.
Can the craft of writing be learned? Absolutely. The first time I showed my husband the piece of music I was working on, he didn’t believe I could play until I did. Did that mean I had the innate ability… no.
Well that’s my thoughts. I hope you guys put up yours.
A tough question that can be answered either way. I think some folks are born with a natural gift for writing beautiful prose, while others of us struggle, learning and applying the craft, hoping to achieve our own level of greatness.
ReplyDeleteMy carnal nature being what it is...while I might enjoy the great writing, I probably won't like the writer "born" into greatness.
In an attempt to defend the unsung majority, I voted for "taught."