Talent vs. Discipline: What's More Important for a Writer?

In a word- discipline. You could stop reading this post right now and you'll know just about everything I have to say on this topic, well...just about. This post will be a discussion on the two components that make a great writer, namely, discipline and talent- and why I think discipline is the most important of the two.

What is Talent?

Talent is a God-given gift that is actually quite difficult to define. You know it when you see it. In writing, it's a person's ability to structure words in a way that transforms. When I read from a talented writer, I'm taken on a journey. I connect to their voice, I'm moved by their prose, and I hang on to their every word. I'm not exactly sure how they achieve this, I just know that they do, and I appreciate it. I am thankful to have read what they wrote. Experiencing talent feels like a gift because it's rare but oh so magical.

Can a Writer Succeed Without Talent?

Yes. Most books and things in general that are written are by good writers. They aren't magical, they are good. They are also successful. They continue to produce material, are paid to produce that material, and that material continues to be widely read and circulated- even celebrated. This is the definition of writer success. So success isn't dependent on talent. Not even a little.

Can a Writer be Great Without Talent?

This is an opinion, so it's possible (and perhaps even likely) that yours will differ from mine. Still, I feel rather strongly that a writer can't truly be considered great without talent. They can have a great catalog, in terms of sheer works penned, for example. They can be great in a particular aspect of their writing- like maybe they are exceptional at character development- but, if their overall writings aren't awe-inspiring in that way that those of talented writers are, then I can't consider them to be great. They may enjoy great success, but there's certain acclaim I can't afford them. Conversely, a talented writer may have no measurable success- but their work will still be incredible.

What is Discipline?

Discipline can be thought of as a measure of self-control or an ability to obey a set ideal (like a rule). In this case, it’s a writer's ability to obey the rules they create for the development of their writing habit. If you decide to write every day, discipline is the thing that will make you write every day, even when you don’t want to, or when you feel you have nothing to say.

Can a Writer Succeed without Discipline?

No. Discipline is the difference between a finished novel and an unfinished one. If you write three chapters before abandoning your manuscript because you feel ‘uninspired’- even if those three chapters are the best-written content the world has ever seen- you will not have a book. You will remain an aspiring author.

If you soldier through and complete an okay first draft, you will have a book that you can then work on to get it to the level you want it to be. You will have a book that you can edit, publish, and sell. With this, you will be an author.

So, success rests on discipline.

Can a Writer be Great Without Discipline?

Yes. But, it is extremely rare. Still, I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the existence of those writers we in the author community love to hate. The ones who wake up one morning, catch inspiration and write feverishly whilst in the grip of that ever-illusive muse, and capture magic in one draft. Then, they disappear for years on end, not bothering to write anything else until, one day, inspiration strikes again and they do it all over again.

While I don't know any of them in real life, such people do exist. They are the rarest of birds, that the general public seems to think are the norm because of how they are romantically portrayed in pop culture. Think of the many celebrated writers famous for their drunken binges and last-minute masterpieces.

I can understand why this is such a pervasive idea- it's the equivalent of catching lightning in a bottle. It's sexy and exciting. However, it's also unrealistic, impractical, and not replicable. I wouldn't count on it, is what I'm trying to say.

Compared to this, discipline is quite boring. It's step-by-step progress that moves you closer and closer to your goal until you reach it. It‘s a mundane day-to-day grind. Often, it’s not fun at all. But, it does get the job done, time and time again.

Why the Greatest Writers have both Talent and Discipline

I think it's obvious that the best and most prominent writers have copious amounts of both talent and discipline. The talent is what makes their works memorable and spectacular. It's what makes them cult classics that stand the test of time. The discipline is what allows them to continuously create such works and build catalogs that are simply awe-inspiring.

Think of William Shakespeare. What's amazing about his work is twofold (at least). Firstly, It's his interpretation of popular themes, and his unique style of bringing stories to life, all while making them accessible to a vast audience- this is his talent. Secondly, it's the sheer volume of his known works. He wrote so many works of literature, mainly plays (at least 38) and poems (at least 150), many of which are considered some of the finest in the English language. While I fully believe he had a great deal of inspiration that fueled his work, writing that much requires a great deal of discipline. I think that he understood that writing was his work and he treated it as such, day in and day out.

As a result, we still celebrate the man today, and he has had a very distinct hand in literature as we know it.

Can you Learn Talent?

Again, this is an opinion, and again, it's one I feel very strongly about. I don't think talent can be taught. I think people either have it or they don't. It's innate. We know it when we're in its presence because it lights us up. What it isn't, however, is a skill. So, it can't be taught or transferred. It sucks, I know.

Can you Learn Discipline?

Absolutely. Discipline is a skill. As such, it can be taught, improved, and perfected. At its core, discipline is about accountability to yourself. If you set a goal, you can (and should) break that goal down to daily tasks that you need to complete- then how well you're able to consistently complete those daily tasks is a measure of your self-discipline.

Like anything, a new habit takes time to form, and it's the repetitive doing of the task that solidifies its formation. If you want to write daily, you have to write daily. Eventually, it will become part of your routine and it will no longer seem difficult to do- but you'll only get there if you stick to the initial habit-forming phase. Your natural inclination will be to not do the thing (because you're starting with a different set of habits) but fight through. It will be worth it.

To develop and maintain a daily writing habit, I like to use a writing planner and word count tracker. This keeps me motivated and accountable. Being able to see my progress inspires me to keep making progress. I also like that this one allows me to plan and check off plot points as I get to them. I think this is an author must-have.

Without use, skills can also be lost. This is why you may have spoken a language as a child but lost it as an adult, or you used to be able to run a mile, but now struggle to fast walk to the end of the block- because you didn't maintain the practice. So, you need to stay in practice or you risk losing your newfound sense of discipline. Develop a daily habit and stick to it. This is very often the difference between success and failure.

Conclusion

Success in writing is most often determined by a person’s level of discipline, not their talent.

It's like the tortoise and the hare, where talent is the hare and discipline is the tortoise. In theory, talent can blow past discipline any day of the week and win without any real effort, and discipline seemingly doesn't stand a chance against sexy talent. In reality, however, discipline wins against talent that doesn't apply itself. At some point, dependability is more important than sex appeal. As the adage goes, slow and steady wins the race.

So, all things being equal, I think (in writing and life) it's more beneficial to cultivate discipline than to have talent. But I'll pray that we all be blessed with both.

Wishing you well wherever you are on your writing journey,

Nonjabulo