Good writers communicate their ideas in a way that others can understand. But were they born with some innate ability to use words well, or can anyone learn how to be a good writer?
I’ve seen two main beliefs about writing that I want to debunk.
The first belief is that writing isn’t highly skilled. As a professional writer, I’ve experienced my work being discounted because when it’s done right, it seems effortless. If you speak and write every day, even if you’re only writing emails, how hard could it be to write a quick blog post?
It turns out that using a language doesn’t always translate to writing ability.
The second belief is that writing is either something you’re naturally good at or you’re hopeless. You may be romanticizing the starving-artist type who stews in their own madness until an idea strikes, and then they type out a beautifully-crafted piece in one sitting.
If only we could all achieve such strokes of brilliance, huh?
The truth is, no one hits the mark with their first draft. Too many good communicators try to write something, run into difficulty, and proclaim that they’re “just not a good writer.” I don’t entirely blame them, either. When you read everyone else’s finished books, blog posts, and website copy and compare it to your works-in-progress, it’s easy to think that they all struggle a whole lot less than you do.
But don’t conflate difficulty with an inability to learn. Writing is hard, even when you’re “good” at it. There are infinite ways to phrase and organize your ideas, and it takes time to figure out the format you’re writing, your voice, and structuring sentences with correct grammar.
What about writing can be taught? Here’s my take…
What About Writing Can Be Taught?
The Basics: Grammar and Spelling
Grammar and spelling can be taught, but for some people, either or both are incredibly difficult to master. There are learning disabilities and other challenges that can prevent someone from learning the basics. There are also people who are generally less inclined to care about learning so many detailed, pedantic rules.
What I’ve found with grammar and spelling is that as you learn and practice the rules, you internalize them. Certain things come naturally to me now because I’ve been writing with the intention to learn for over 10 years. It’s only gotten easier as I’ve left school and started working as a technical writer because part of my company’s style guide involves applying proper grammar according to some of the “big boy” style guides like AP style or MLA style.
Keep in mind, too, that reading is a great way to learn how to write. When you read, you’re learning how sentences and paragraphs are put together, so you get a lesson in grammar as well as in flow.
So, yes, you could be taught the basics of grammar and spelling in a class. You can also learn a ton with hands-on practice and reading.
Communication Skills
Communication skills can be taught, too. I hear a lot of people complain that they have an idea or picture in their head, but when they start to put words down, it isn’t quite capturing what they’re imagining. It’s incredibly discouraging! But having that feeling doesn’t mean that you’re bad at writing, it means that you need patience.
Remember that when you’re reading something, you aren’t seeing all the attempts that led to the way it’s written now. No one gets it right on the first try.
The only way out is through, so practice using language to communicate meaning. The more you let yourself pause to think of the right word or you rewrite a sentence or paragraph ten times over until it sounds right, the easier it gets to phrase things exactly the way you want to. Writing stories or journaling about your day is a great way to practice putting words to meaning.
Formats
Different mediums of writing can be taught, like essays, journalistic articles, scientific articles, technical instructions, press releases, blog posts, cover letters, etc. Each type of writing has its own conventions and structures, so when you need to use one, look for guidance and examples to help you get started.
What About Craft?
Is there a point at which innate talent is necessary to get better?
It depends on what you’re trying to achieve. If you want to be the next F. Scott Fitzgerald, then perhaps there’s a level of craft involved that most can’t achieve. But while some would say that achieving that level of craft is innate, I think it boils down to practice and intention—you’ll have to spend a lot of time practicing your craft and developing your voice and storytelling skills.
Just like all skills, though, I think that there’s some element of natural inclination towards writing. Some people learn how to write well and find their unique voice and style faster than most. Some people are excellent at writing fiction, marketing copy, journalistic articles, or any other flavor of words-ing with little practice or effort. (Maybe they suck at everything else, though…)
Whether or not you think you have a natural inclination for writing, it’s important to note that having the inclination doesn’t mean that you’re destined to be a star. And feeling like you don’t have a “knack” for writing doesn’t exclude you from potentially finding success with it.
If you want to be a successful author in your industry, you can do so without being a savant. If you’re able to share your ideas in a way that your audience can understand, and without committing distracting spelling or grammar mistakes, then you can find huge success.
Writing Is Taught With Practice
Writing is a skill, and the best way to improve a skill is to practice it. Writing more is how you gain confidence in your writing skills. Reading can also help you internalize grammar, structure, and flow.
Get the idea out of your head that the work you see suddenly appears in a wild burst of inspiration. That vision doesn’t reflect the work it really takes to string the right words together.
Good writing happens when you rewrite a single sentence four times, sneak in a blog post draft before you head to your desk job, or jot some ideas on the back of a receipt while you wrangle your kids to school… That sounds way more glamorous and real to me, anyway.