Writers! What is your opinion on the following...?

Question

Again, my old college lecturer:

'A great writer need not have a good idea, nor a good setting, or even strong characters for his work to become a great success. What he requires, singularly and above all else, is an inherent mastery of the English language and the written word. A great writer could have an idea pitched to him about three motes of dust caught in a cardboard box, and write about the scene as if it was the most wonderful thing ever put on a page; the reader would become enraptured by the tale of this dust, just as if he were reading about a historical battle, the lives of the saints or some fantastical wonderland,'

How far would you agree? And yes, my lecturer was a dramatic old Nazi from the age of the dinosaurs, in case you were wondering. Do you agree that to be a good writer talent is all that is needed, rather than passion or even a good idea?

Thanks!

Take a look at my 360 page to learn a little more about me and to view a tiny piece of my work- I want criticism and direction so please email me or leave a comment, whether to discuss my style or your own- I am keen to meet other writers!

Answer 1

I, William Shakespeare, of Stratford-upon-Avon, in the county of Warrick, gentleman in perfect health & memory. God be praised, do make & ordain this my last will & testament in manner & form following, that is to say, first, I commend my soul into the hands of God, my Creator, hoping & assuredly believing, through the only merits of Jesus Christ, my Saviour, to be made partaker of life everlasting, and my body to the Earth whereof it is made.

Answer 2

I agree that the talent is the PRIME requirement. You can learn to mastery your language of choice and writing styles. These things together make or break the creation.

As was mentioned there are dozens of books on various topics and always there are a few that are recognized as the authoritative sources. Similarly, there are a few authors whose mastery of the language and its constructs have enabled them to be more than prolific, in more than one subject. Take Isaac Asimov for example, He has written over 400 books and many more articles and short stories on dozens of topics. He is widely read and is looked at as a "great." Arthur C Clark is another example of this type of author.

Good ideas are also important especially so that you can get someone to buy your first works, and passion certainly helps, but to be successful truly requires a spark that separates you from the common writer.

Good luck to you and all who are trying to become published authors.

Answer 3

There seems to be a lot of examples of writers with "lesser skills" that are (financially) successful. But they are the very, VERY, small percentage of professional writers that make a living at their craft. One is FAR more likely to be successful in any discipline if they master the skills of their trade.

Your prof may be a dinosaur, but I can guess that he/she has known a lot of students and their respective skills. I'd say his/her appraisal comes from knowing which of those students have gone on to be successful in the trade. Listen to that advice. Especially the subtle advice that mastery brings versatility, which means you have wider opportunities for employment.

Need more convincing? What do you see in this world. How many "good ideas" die a lonely death for lack of ability to express them. How many "passionate" people are flipping burgers because they can't write. Conversely how many stupid ideas or boring concepts make their way into commercial success due to the mastery of the writer (think TV, Movies, and romance novels).

Good luck

Answer 4

Nice thought, but nonsense I'm afraid. Look at Dan Brown!! He's been massively successful and his prose is bloody awful. I used to be a fiction writing group full of people with beautiful prose, but no imagination and no talent for verisimilitude - nobody liked their work, it was dull, dull, dull. If you can write like George Elliot and have her talent for making characters real, then you can get away with a not terribly gripping plot, but as the modern successful authors have proven (J K Rowling and Stephen King) plot is everything nowadays and a nice writing style is just a bonus.

Answer 5

It is so true! How many books out there are on the same subject yet only SOME authors are read and others are not?

It is the ability of the writer to make the subject interesting, not the subject to make the author interesting....

Answer 6

Funny you should mention dust motes as Dr. Seuss wrote an entire book on this called "Horton Hears a Who!"

Answer 7

it is really about using the imagination of the story and creativity of an outcome that makes the best seller and writer

Answer 8

Success = 5 % inspiration and 95% perspiration

Polish, rewrite, rework, again and again and again.......


Boring, but true.........


M : )