One, is brimming with romanticism, helped along with a healthy dosage of Hollywood hype. According to the rules at this institution, writers are colleagues of those suffering geniuses who possess poor social skills, problems with personal hygiene, and struggle to make the rent each month. If you subscribe to this philosophy or any modified version of it, you probably think of writing as a gift you are either born with a talent, full blown, as Diana from Zeus head, or you re not. You are either destined to write the great American novel, or Hallmark cards. The other philosophy however, suggests a very different approach.
Writing is a skill, a craft, and as such, is learned.
Ask any dancer, painter, musician how to get to Carnegie Hall, as the old joke goes, and they will reply, Practice, practice, practice. Now while it may be obvious for the need to practice a sonata, a rond de jambe or a brushstroke, some of you may believe writers are exempt. After all, you reason, you won t write the same story over and over. And of course, you are right. But style, familiarity with your craft, its devices, with your strong suits, all require constant examination and re-examination.