Comments on: Poll – Can Writing Be Taught? http://writeabetternovel.net/writing-taught/ Practical wisdom for novelists and other storytellers Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:03:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lesley http://writeabetternovel.net/writing-taught/comment-page-1/#comment-1475 Lesley Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:07:42 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=2302#comment-1475 In my opinion interest in writing cannot be taught. Creativity cannot be taught, it seems to be hardwired or not. However, the tools in which we unleash our interests and creativity not only can be, they must be taught. In my opinion interest in writing cannot be taught. Creativity cannot be taught, it seems to be hardwired or not. However, the tools in which we unleash our interests and creativity not only can be, they must be taught.

]]> By: Bill Henderson http://writeabetternovel.net/writing-taught/comment-page-1/#comment-1446 Bill Henderson Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:19:00 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=2302#comment-1446 True. If you don't want to take it on, the learning process won't produce results. And ironically, you have to work like a demon to produce writing that reads as if it were merely tossed off. I think most readers, even some writers (!) don't realize how huge a labor it is to write and finish something of value--and I seriously doubt that any novelist, Virginia Woolf included, ever tossed one off. NaNoWriMo encourages a simulated effortlessness, but they're very clear about their bottom line--to get people writing every day, nothing more. Talent or no talent, you can't avoid (1) desire and (2) willingness to put on the clod boots and slog through the mud like a peasant. True. If you don’t want to take it on, the learning process won’t produce results. And ironically, you have to work like a demon to produce writing that reads as if it were merely tossed off. I think most readers, even some writers (!) don’t realize how huge a labor it is to write and finish something of value–and I seriously doubt that any novelist, Virginia Woolf included, ever tossed one off. NaNoWriMo encourages a simulated effortlessness, but they’re very clear about their bottom line–to get people writing every day, nothing more. Talent or no talent, you can’t avoid (1) desire and (2) willingness to put on the clod boots and slog through the mud like a peasant.

]]> By: CeCe http://writeabetternovel.net/writing-taught/comment-page-1/#comment-1445 CeCe Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:43:51 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=2302#comment-1445 I'll go for the ultra-corny and say that, like most things, writing can only be taught if the student is willing to learn. If you're unwilling to take notes, then you won't ever progress in your writing. I’ll go for the ultra-corny and say that, like most things, writing can only be taught if the student is willing to learn. If you’re unwilling to take notes, then you won’t ever progress in your writing.

]]> By: Nick Faber http://writeabetternovel.net/writing-taught/comment-page-1/#comment-1443 Nick Faber Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:48:58 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=2302#comment-1443 My AP English teacher had a theoretical scenario that she imparted on us about being "born writers" versus working hard on it. I forget the name she used in her example so I will say Virginia Woolf. Let's say Virginia Woolf and I are in an English class and we have a week to write an essay. Because she is a good writer and she knows it, Virginia Woolf can wait until the night before it's due, scribble down a first draft, turn it in and get a B+. Now I could sit around all week thinking about how it's not fair that Virginia Woolf has it so easy, or I can study and write and rewrite all week and turn in my paper and get an A. This helped me make the distinction in my head between talent and skill. One we are born with, the 0ther comes from hard work and dedication. My AP English teacher had a theoretical scenario that she imparted on us about being “born writers” versus working hard on it. I forget the name she used in her example so I will say Virginia Woolf.

Let’s say Virginia Woolf and I are in an English class and we have a week to write an essay. Because she is a good writer and she knows it, Virginia Woolf can wait until the night before it’s due, scribble down a first draft, turn it in and get a B+. Now I could sit around all week thinking about how it’s not fair that Virginia Woolf has it so easy, or I can study and write and rewrite all week and turn in my paper and get an A.

This helped me make the distinction in my head between talent and skill. One we are born with, the 0ther comes from hard work and dedication.

]]> By: asrai http://writeabetternovel.net/writing-taught/comment-page-1/#comment-1442 asrai Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:26:22 +0000 http://truevoice-blog.com/?p=2302#comment-1442 Federer can play tennis because he played tennis his life, like it's a job. It's the 10,000 hour rule that Malcolm Gladwell talks about in his book "Outliers". From the wikiepdia article about the book "is simply a matter of practicing a specific task that can be accomplished with 20 hours of work a week for 10 years." Becoming a writer is simply a matter of writing over and over until you figure out what works and what doesn't. It's also the law of averages, if you keep producing something is bound to be half-decent. Federer can play tennis because he played tennis his life, like it’s a job. It’s the 10,000 hour rule that Malcolm Gladwell talks about in his book “Outliers”. From the wikiepdia article about the book “is simply a matter of practicing a specific task that can be accomplished with 20 hours of work a week for 10 years.”

Becoming a writer is simply a matter of writing over and over until you figure out what works and what doesn’t.

It’s also the law of averages, if you keep producing something is bound to be half-decent.

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