Writing Talent: Can It Be Learned?

Is writing ability inborn or can it be trained for?

If you ask most people, they’ll posit that it’s probably inborn.  After all, some people are just great at language at an early age.  Can you imagine your favorite writer, whoever that may be, failing reading comprehension class at the fourth grade?

When you look at successful people, though, you’ll realize that those who are the best at their craft reached that level because they busted their asses for it.  Do you know that amateur pianists average an accumulated 2000 hours of practice by the time they reach 20 while professional ones average around 10,000 hours when they reach the same age?  That brief comparison shows the immense value of dedication and practice over natural ability.

Studies of successful individuals, in whatever field, continually demonstrate that those who put in the long, hard work are the same ones who reap the eventual gains.  Rarely will you find a pianist who put in practice time at the level of professionals who remain at the amateur level for long.

Simply put, while you may not have been the best writer in high school, you can still be a good writer now, provided you’re willing to put in the practice time to hone your craft.  With the help of a writing and grammar software, chances are, you can achieve a decent level of skill, no matter how “untalented” you imagine yourself to be.