Talent, Shmalent! 8 Qualities More Important than Writing Talent

I understand why new writers want to be reassured they have writing talent. They don’t want to embark on the long road to a writing career if they don’t have the chops. So I have sympathy with the writers who ask me to read their fledgling work in hopes I’ll pronounce them “talented.”

But I always decline.

A wise author never goes there. Even if we had the time to offer freebie critiques, we don’t want open ourselves up to lawsuits for “stealing ideas.”

But biggest reason is: I have no way of telling if people have “writing talent.”

I can only tell if they have writing skills.

1) Commitment and Patience
2) Empathy and Listening Skills
3) The Desire to Learn
4) The Ability to be Alone
5) Understanding of the Marketplace
6) Passion
7) Gratitude
8) Persistence

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