An open letter

A friend asked me if she should keep writing. Here is my answer.

You asked if you should keep writing.  Now that I've had a bit of time to think about it, I think this is the answer I should have given you.

Your writing shows talent, and that is by far the more coveted possession.  Many people have struggled their entire lives trying to achieve a modicum of success, only to be turned away again and again by rejections, the reason being they had no talent.  No one can teach you talent -- the art of telling a story, thrilling your reader, raising emotions in her that she hadn't felt with other things.  Your writing has this in it.

But where your writing falls short is in skill.  There are thousands if not millions of writing courses which try to impart the skills of writing, and they're filled with boring, lifeless teachers which may or may not recognize talent in others, but who have failed to arouse in their own writing.  They teach skills, and that is what I was trying to show you in my comment.  The skills are easily attained by anyone with book learning.  It only takes time.  But no one can teach you how to have talent.

My comment merely pointed out some of your skill problems.  I did that because I've always believed that "A word to the wise is sufficient," and your writing showed wisdom and maturity. 

A true writer writes, not because they want to communicate with others, but because they want to express what is inside of themselves.  We read another's work because a good writer brings out an emotional response in ourselves.  When the two coincide, then a connection deeper than anything previuosly imagined happens.  I think many writers are attracted to the field because of a special writing that touched them intimately, and they have a desire to touch others in the same way. 

Please keep writing, not for my sake, but for yours.

Author's Note

All comments welcome.

Reviews

[Adrian K. Smith]

it is somewhat sad, in my not usually humble opinion, how many writers with talent end up not writing because of they feel they lack the skill to do so. I completely agree with what you have said regarding a talented writers ability to learn the necessary skills to be a great writer and that unfortunately there are many who have great writing skills that simply lack the talent to bring forth an emotional response from the reader. Their writing may be functionally perfect, but it will always lack compared to the butchered work of somebody with talent.

[Nick]

i dont write to write i wright when im upset sad depressed etc and it is usually is on whats bottled up inside

[Blade & Blood (The ..]

Yeah, this is a neutral answer. It's perfect. You were no where near biased with your opinions and you gave excellent advice. I hope your friend took your advice because a lot of it (that I could actually identify with) was really true. ;) Thanks for sharing this! I'm sure it may have opened the eyes of the doubtful. lol ^^

Ironically Yours, Blade and Blood

[bailish]

The more I think about it, though, I think that we are natural story-tellers. Before children can speak, they enjoy hearing stories. Soon after speaking, they want to relate stories to their parents and friends. I think many people lose the art of story-telling over the years through lack of practice, because I've noticed some people that I previously considered to lack talent to develop, through hard work, pieces of work that I would consider talented.

I guess I don't know as much as I claim.

[Pink Poison]

Great advice. Anyone can learn skill, but you can NOT teach someone talent. The fire that makes the poem or story breath on its own is talent. I write because I can't not. It is like breathing to me...the only way to make sense of my world. If anyone, with or without talent, wants to write, I say "Write on!" because they may learn as they go and if the desire is there, then hidden talent may follow. If not, so what? At least they're expressing themselves!

[DarkIriswriter]

aww thanks well put and i appreciate your advice..no one has ever really thought me much about writing thats why i am going to major in it on my own..So I can gets the skills needed... I am still in high school so it will be a year before i get to the point of learning more advance writing skills..I am looking forward to going to Cambridge in the fall 2010...most teachers that I have had were extremely boring and not in touch with ones self in writing... they were more worried aobut the lesson than the students writing....take care and i will look into the spelling and what not later, as for now I have to take care of my mother...

sara

[Jessica Fox]

A great letter and then there are those that should just quit writing altogether, such as a certain quote unquote self proclaimed horror writer I know. Their stuff is weak, boring, and I'm sure my bird could pull something out of his feathery arse that would be better. A good letter, honest and brutal and nicely put.

[bailish]

I think sometimes I forget why people write when I review other's work. I make suggestions to improve the writing, not always explore what the writing makes me feel. I write because I couldn't imagine a life without writing, and if my writing only made people hunt for mistakes, then it has failed on some level.

[C.m.v]

I agree. Personally I write as a form of expression and a release of emotions I would otherwise never reveal to anyone. I write because I need to...its the only way I can truly and openly express myself and feel free after I've done it.
I like your advice, its very practical, and wise. I dont think the 'technical" aspect is all that important necessarily because the majority of readers arent looking for something properly constructed...they're looking for something that makes them feel something....or helps them understand something.
As long as your friend is writing from the heart, I think she should keep on writing! If not for anyone else, do it for you!