| Over the years, many people have asked me to | | | | 1. Being sensitive to the differences between |
| look at their writing. "I need to know, do I | | | | words. A good dictionary can help with this, |
| have talent or not," they say. "Then I'll | | | | if you consult it to learn, for example, |
| know if I should pursue writing or stick to | | | | whether a "cauldron" is the same as a |
| accounting." | | | | "kettle" or when a gang member would be said |
| | | | to have "bravery" and when "bravado." |
| Their request is seriously flawed, I'd reply. | | | | |
| Anyone can become a better writer. When I | | | | 2. Recognizing that getting your message |
| taught English Composition at various | | | | across has less to do with what you meant and |
| colleges, I saw irrefutable proof of this. | | | | more to do with how readers understand the |
| Students who submitted hackneyed, half-dead | | | | words you put together. If no one "gets it," |
| writing to start with turned in lively, | | | | you must write it differently. Often this |
| well-written essays by the end of the | | | | lesson is harder for those who feel |
| semester. Likewise, I've seen plenty of | | | | desperately called to write than for those |
| writers whose work seems plain and | | | | with a more matter-of-fact attitude toward |
| unimaginative get assignment upon assignment | | | | writing. |
| from magazines while others with dazzling | | | | |
| wordcraft skills can't get published | | | | 3. Being willing to put a piece of writing |
| anywhere. | | | | aside, look at again in the cold light of the |
| | | | morning and rearrange, replace and revise the |
| According to Stanford psychology professor | | | | elements of the piece to tell the story more |
| Carol Dweck, I was right to question the | | | | clearly and more artfully. |
| query about talent. Dweck's book, Mind-set: | | | | |
| The New Psychology of Success, reports | | | | 4. Having the discipline to learn and apply |
| research showing that in education, the arts | | | | the rules of spelling, grammar and usage. |
| and business, people who believe talent is | | | | Yes, when your work is accepted for |
| fixed and inborn do not fully develop their | | | | publication you'll usually have an editor |
| potential and do not recover easily from | | | | who'll save you from major mistakes. But |
| setbacks. | | | | editors prefer working with those who know |
| | | | and follow the standards of professional |
| Those who believe talent can be developed, | | | | writing. |
| regardless of apparent starting point, not | | | | |
| only achieve more but also prompt greater | | | | 5. Being able to bounce back from |
| achievement in their children and staff. | | | | disappointment. In the writing business, the |
| | | | possibility of rejection never goes away. |
| Her best news: You can change your mind-set | | | | Successful writers learn not to take it |
| about talent or intelligence. In only two | | | | personally for more than an hour or so, then |
| months, kids who were taught that the brain, | | | | they simply go on to the next publication |
| like a muscle, improves with exercise | | | | outlet or the next writing project. |
| sawtheir math scores rocket from F's to B's. | | | | |
| | | | From what I've observed, these five skills |
| Toss out the belief that you either have | | | | and attitudes matter much more for success as |
| writing talent or you don't. Instead, | | | | a writer than anything we'd generally label |
| approach getting published as requiring a set | | | | as talent. Resolve to develop yourself along |
| of skills that you can deliberately learn. | | | | those lines and you're certain to get |
| These skills include: | | | | somewhere as a writer. Really! |
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