Interesting post. I definitely do think writing is something people need practice to improve (I tend not to use the term "craft" personally since it conjures up images of that dreadful movie with Neve Campbell) and I think that's one of the hardest things for new(er) writers to grapple with. It's not immediately obvious why a person can't be amazing at writing right off the bat if they just pour enough energy and time into the project--after all, we all know English and how to string a sentence together. And most people who get into writing fiction have vivid imaginations and somewhat interesting ideas.
But if you liken writing to any other skill, it becomes much more obvious why nobody really jumps into writing a brilliant novel the first go round. I agree with your comment that having talent can be a hindrance in that it can cause writers to grow complacent with their writing, and to stick with writing what feels comfortable as opposed to what will challenge them and force them to grow. I'm sure we can all think of authors who write the same story over and over again--and each story may be well written, but it's akin to playing the same piece of music over and over again instead of moving onto a different, more challenging piece. I think new challenges is key to growth here--mindless repetition may make you very good at writing a particular type of story but eventually you're going to plateau. That's why I try to participate in many different challenges, write in different genres, and experiment with different subject matter.
I've been writing for over ten years and man, I started out the worst badfic writer you could ever imagine. Not a spark of talent in me--I was starting from square one. But I kept chugging at it and I can track the growth of my writing over the years; during my prolific periods the improvement was incredible, while during the periods where I barely wrote at all, I simply stagnated. And the first 8 years were rough--I would look at the more talented writers (both pro and in fandom) and wonder, why could they do it so much better than me? What separates them from me? My ideas are just as good (and in some cases better). The answer is usually simple: practice. They'd written millions of words to my piddling hundreds of thousands.
As a slight side note: I think writing is also one of those skills that is greatly improved by more life experience and maturity. The years that I've been alive had provided me with a wealth of information and emotion and humor to infuse my writing with, and has allowed me to understand more of life's complexities. To some extent, that kind of experience can't be researched or imagined or feigned--you just need to live it before you can feel it, know it, and write it.
no subject
But if you liken writing to any other skill, it becomes much more obvious why nobody really jumps into writing a brilliant novel the first go round. I agree with your comment that having talent can be a hindrance in that it can cause writers to grow complacent with their writing, and to stick with writing what feels comfortable as opposed to what will challenge them and force them to grow. I'm sure we can all think of authors who write the same story over and over again--and each story may be well written, but it's akin to playing the same piece of music over and over again instead of moving onto a different, more challenging piece. I think new challenges is key to growth here--mindless repetition may make you very good at writing a particular type of story but eventually you're going to plateau. That's why I try to participate in many different challenges, write in different genres, and experiment with different subject matter.
I've been writing for over ten years and man, I started out the worst badfic writer you could ever imagine. Not a spark of talent in me--I was starting from square one. But I kept chugging at it and I can track the growth of my writing over the years; during my prolific periods the improvement was incredible, while during the periods where I barely wrote at all, I simply stagnated. And the first 8 years were rough--I would look at the more talented writers (both pro and in fandom) and wonder, why could they do it so much better than me? What separates them from me? My ideas are just as good (and in some cases better). The answer is usually simple: practice. They'd written millions of words to my piddling hundreds of thousands.
As a slight side note: I think writing is also one of those skills that is greatly improved by more life experience and maturity. The years that I've been alive had provided me with a wealth of information and emotion and humor to infuse my writing with, and has allowed me to understand more of life's complexities. To some extent, that kind of experience can't be researched or imagined or feigned--you just need to live it before you can feel it, know it, and write it.