It's not about talent!

I've been teaching a creative writing course that I now call "Writing Mastery" for about 20 years, and one of the very first things I tell my new participants is that writing success is NOT about 'talent'. How well you write has very little to do with your instinctive ability. It's much more about your attitude and your application. 

Why do I say this? Because 'talent' is not something we can have; it's something that we DO. And every talent is a combination of actions and attitudes. The people we perceive to be 'talented' just demonstrate various actions and attitudes that result in successful output. So.... since it's not about being lucky enough to be born with talent, ANYONE can be 'talented'. You just do what the 'talented' people re doing. Ie You apply the attitudes and actions that they are applying. 

The science of NLP has shown us that all behaviours can be modeled (i.e. copied). Every outcome we achieve follows on from certain behavioural strategies that are often quite unconscious. Some years ago when I was very blocked as a writer, my research revealed to me that there are specific strategies that allow us to overcome writer's block (and write with impact), and successful writers have them down pat. 

I reveal these strategies in my writing courses, but what I wanted to share here is a wonderful article that one of my students has just shared with me that provides 'academic proof' for what I have just said about talent. Follow the link (below) and enjoy the read. 

Liliane

What a stirring and inspiring inaugural speech Barack Obama gave today. I was moved to tears listening to him commit to accountability, honesty and fair play. His determination to revive old American values sent shivers down my spine - I even caught myself thinking about moving to America. It would be so good to be a part of that shake-up and guided by that leadership.

And when I read some writer's critiques of his speech in an article by Susan Salter Reynolds, I was particularly struck by this comment from author Ron Carlson, who was 'watching the President's syntax': ' "What courage," he said, "to use a complex sentence talking to a million people! By expecting the best of us, he just might get it." '

Hear, hear! I echo this comment heartily. Here's to the end of the dumbing-down era; here's to leaders who really lead, who are prepared to stand up and be counted; here's to America's renewal by drawing on inner strengths and values. And here's to the rest of the world stepping up to join them as we co-create our world.

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Liliane Grace.