Writing Quote: It’s pretty nice to be talented. If you are, enjoy, but it won’t take you that far. Work takes you a lot further. --Natalie Goldberg

The True Measure of a Writer: Talent vs. Hard Work

by Olivia Salter

In the realm of fiction writing, the debate between talent and hard work is as old as storytelling itself. Natalie Goldberg, in her insightful quote, “It’s pretty nice to be talented. If you are, enjoy, but it won’t take you that far. Work takes you a lot further,” encapsulates a truth that resonates deeply with writers at all stages of their journey.

The Allure of Talent

Talent is often seen as a magical gift, an innate ability that sets certain individuals apart. In fiction writing, talent might manifest as a natural flair for crafting compelling narratives, an instinctive understanding of character development, or an effortless command of language. Talented writers can create vivid worlds and memorable characters with seemingly little effort, drawing readers into their stories with ease.

However, relying solely on talent can be a double-edged sword. While it can provide a strong foundation, it can also lead to complacency. Talented writers might find initial success, but without the discipline to hone their craft, they risk stagnation. The literary world is littered with examples of promising writers who failed to reach their full potential because they relied too heavily on their natural abilities.

The Power of Hard Work

Goldberg’s assertion that “work takes you a lot further” highlights the transformative power of dedication and perseverance. Hard work in fiction writing involves a relentless commitment to improving one’s craft. It means writing regularly, even when inspiration is lacking, and being willing to revise and edit tirelessly.

Hard work also encompasses a willingness to learn and grow. This might involve studying the works of other writers, attending workshops, or seeking feedback from peers and mentors. It requires a mindset that embraces challenges and views setbacks as opportunities for growth.

Balancing Talent and Hard Work

The most successful fiction writers often strike a balance between talent and hard work. They recognize their natural abilities but do not rest on their laurels. Instead, they use their talent as a springboard, propelling themselves forward through consistent effort and a commitment to excellence.

For aspiring writers, Goldberg’s quote serves as a valuable reminder that talent alone is not enough. The literary world rewards those who are willing to put in the time and effort to refine their skills. It is through hard work that writers can transform their raw talent into something truly extraordinary.

In conclusion, in the end, the true measure of a writer is not just their talent, but their dedication to their craft. Natalie Goldberg’s words remind us that while talent is a wonderful gift, it is hard work that ultimately leads to lasting success in fiction writing. So, embrace your talent, but remember to pair it with relentless effort. The stories you create will be all the richer for it.

Inspiring Quotes About Writing

Here are inspiring quotes about writing from famous authors to fuel your creativity:

1. Stephen King: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.”
2. Annie Proulx: “You should write because you love the shape of stories and sentences and the creation of different words on a page. Writing comes from reading, and reading is the finest teacher of how to write.”
3. Eudora Welty: “Indeed, learning to write may be part of learning to read. For all I know, writing comes out of a superior devotion to reading.”
4. William Faulkner: “Read everything — trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it’s good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out of the window.”
5. Robert Louis Stevenson: “I kept always two books in my pocket: one to read, one to write in.”
6. Ernest Gaines: “The Six Golden Rules of Writing: Read, read, read, and write, write, write.”
7. Samuel Johnson: “The greatest part of a writer’s time is spent in reading, in order to write; a man will turn over half a library to make one book.”
8. Lisa See: “Read a thousand books, and your words will flow like a river.”
9. Mary B. W. Tabor: “One sure window into a person’s soul is his reading list.”

Remember, inspiration often lies just around the corner of life. 

Happy writing! 

Embracing Imperfection in Fiction Writing: Finding Beauty in Scars, Failure, and Disorder

 

Embracing Imperfection in Fiction Writing: Finding Beauty in Scars, Failure, and Disorder

 

by Olivia Salter

In the world of fiction writing, there is often pressure to strive for perfection. Writers may feel the need to create flawless characters, flawless plots, and flawless prose. However, renowned fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto offers a refreshing perspective on imperfection in his quote, "I think perfection is ugly. Somewhere in the things humans make, I want to see scars, failure, disorder, distortion."

Yamamoto's words remind us that imperfections are what make us human, and they can also be what make our stories come alive. In fiction writing, embracing scars, failure, disorder, and distortion can lead to more authentic and compelling storytelling.

Scars in fiction can add depth to characters, revealing their past struggles and vulnerabilities. Failure can drive the plot forward, creating tension and conflict. Disorder can mirror the chaos of real life, making the story more relatable. And distortion can challenge readers' perspectives, sparking thought and discussion.

By incorporating imperfections into our writing, we can create narratives that resonate with readers on a deeper level. So, instead of striving for perfection, let's embrace the beauty of scars, failure, disorder, and distortion in our fiction writing. Let's dare to be imperfect and create stories that are truly human. 

 

There is a Magic in Story Writing by John Steinbeck | Writing Quote

There is a Magic in Story Writing

 

by John Steinbeck

 

 

 If there is a magic in story writing, and I am convinced there is, no one has ever been able to reduce it to a recipe that can be passed from one person to another. The formula seems to lie solely in the aching urge of the writer to convey something he feels important to the reader. If the writer has that urge, he may sometimes, but by no means always, find the way to do it. You must perceive the excellence that makes a good story good or the errors that make a bad story. For a bad story is only an ineffective story.

-- John Steinbeck

About thr Author  

John Ernst Steinbeck Jr. (February 27, 1902 – December 20, 1968) was an American author and the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature winner "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social perception." He has been called "a giant of American letters."  Wikipedia 

 John Steinbeck at Amazon

Read, Read, Read, Verything by William Faulkner | Writing Quote

 

 

Purpose of a Writer by Albert Camus

 

 Read, read, read. Read everything -- trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window.

 --William Faulkner

 

Abouts the Author 

William Cuthbert Faulkner was an William Cuthbert Faulkner was an American writer known for his novels and short stories set in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County, based on Lafayette County, Mississippi, where Faulkner spent most of his life. Wikipedia

 

Notable works: The Sound and the Fury; As I Lay Dying; Light in August; Absalom, A...

Notable awards: Nobel Prize in Literature (1949); Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1955, 19...
Born: William Cuthbert Falkner; September 25, 1897; New Albany, Mississippi, U.S
Died: July 6, 1962 (aged 64); Byhalia, Mississippi, U.S
Short stories: A Rose for Emily, Barn Burning, Dry September, and more
Plays: Requiem for a Nun

 

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Purpose of a Writer by Albert Camus | Writing Quote

Purpose of a Writer 

by Albert Camus

 

The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.

--Albert Camus

 

About the Author 

 Albert Camus was a French philosopher, author, dramatist, and journalist. He was the recipient of the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His works include  The Stranger, The Plague, The Myth of Sisyphus, The Fall, and The Rebel.  Wikipedia

Born: November 7, 1913, Drean, Algeria
Died: January 4, 1960, Villeblevin, France
Spouse: Francine Faure (m. 1940–1960) and Simone Hie (m. 1934–1940)
Parents: Catherine Hélène Sintés and Lucien Auguste Camus

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America is the Wealthiest Nation on Earth, but its People are Mainly Poor, from Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut

 America Quote from Slaughterhouse-Five

by Kurt Vonnegut

 

     America is the wealthiest nation on Earth, but its people are mainly poor, and poor Americans are urged to hate themselves. To quote the American humorist Kin Hubbard, 'It ain’t no disgrace to be poor, but it might as well be.' It is in fact a crime for an American to be poor, even though America is a nation of poor. Every other nation has folk traditions of men who were poor but extremely wise and virtuous, and therefore more estimable than anyone with power and gold. No such tales are told by the American poor. They mock themselves and glorify their betters. The meanest eating or drinking establishment, owned by a man who is himself poor, is very likely to have a sign on its wall asking this cruel question: 'if you’re so smart, why ain’t you rich?' There will also be an American flag no larger than a child’s hand – glued to a lollipop stick and flying from the cash register.

    Americans, like human beings everywhere, believe many things that are obviously untrue. Their most destructive untruth is that it is very easy for any American to make money. They will not acknowledge how in fact hard money is to come by, and, therefore, those who have no money blame and blame and blame themselves. This inward blame has been a treasure for the rich and powerful, who have had to do less for their poor, publicly and privately, than any other ruling class since, say Napoleonic times. Many novelties have come from America. The most startling of these, a thing without precedent, is a mass of undignified poor. They do not love one another because they do not love themselves.

Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five
Tags: america, disgrace, inequality, love, poor

 Kurt Vonnegut Books at Amazon

 

 About the Author

Vonnegut in February 1972

Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (November 11, 1922 – April 11, 2007) was an American writer known for his satirical and darkly humorous novels.[1] In a career spanning over 50 years, he published fourteen novels, three short-story collections, five plays, and five nonfiction works; further collections have been published after his death. Wikipedia

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Writing Quote: John Steinbeck: If there is a magic in story writing...

Writing Quote  

Pulitzer Prize winner and Nobel laureate John Steinbeck

(February 27, 1902–December 20, 1968)

If there is a magic in story writing, and I am convinced there is, no one has ever been able to reduce it to a recipe that can be passed from one person to another. The formula seems to lie solely in the aching urge of the writer to convey something he feels important to the reader. If the writer has that urge, he may sometimes, but by no means always, find the way to do it. You must perceive the excellence that makes a good story good or the errors that make a bad story. For a bad story is only an ineffective story.

Many Who Attempt To Write Can Never Succeed

 

Many who attempt to write can never succeed. Some succeed despite all obstacles. But in between are a great number with varying degree of ability, many of them appearing in books or magazines, some of them attaining a fair degree of real success, some of them failing of print, but no one of them who could not do far better if he would shake himself free from the influence of machine-like methods and give opportunity to whatever of individuality may lie within him. 

A long procession of possibilities unrealized, regrettable because of the loss to American fiction, pathetic if one looks behind the manuscripts at vain struggles and hopes unfulfilled.

Excerpt from Fiction Writers on Fiction Writing

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Anton Chekhov Quote to Maria Kiselyova, January 14, 1887 on Writing

"Your statement that the world is "teeming with villains and villanesses" is true. Human nature is imperfect, so it would be odd to perceive none but the righteous. Requiring literature to dig up a "pearl" from the pack of villains is tantamount to negating literature altogether. Literature is accepted as an art because it depicts life as it actually is. Its aim is the truth, unconditional and honest. Limiting its functions to as narrow a field as extracting "pearls" would be as deadly for art as requiring Levitan to draw a tree without any dirty bark or yellowed leaves. A "pearl" is a fine thing, I agree. But the writer is not a pastry chef, he is not a cosmetician and not an entertainer. He is a man bound by contract to his sense of duty and to his conscience. Once he undertakes this task, it is too late for excuses, and no matter how horrified, he must do battle with his squeamishness and sully his imagination with the grime of life. He is just like any ordinary reporter. What would you say if a newspaper reporter as a result of squeamishness or a desire to please his readers were to limit his descriptions to honest city fathers, high-minded ladies, and virtuous railroadmen?

 To a chemist there is nothing impure on earth. The writer should be just as objective as the chemist; he should liberate himself from everyday subjectivity and acknowledge that manure piles play a highly respectable role in the landscape and that evil passions are every bit as much a part of life as good ones."

Ernest Hemingway’s “Iceberg Theory” or "Theory of Omission" of Writing

If a writer of prose knows enough of what he is writing about he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, will have a feeling of those things as strongly as though the writer had stated them. The dignity of movement of an ice-berg is due to only one-eighth of it being above water. A writer who omits things because he does not know them only makes hollow places in his writing.

 –Ernest Hemingway



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