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The Myth of Talent
Maybe One of the Most Deadly of All Myths… Talent is a measure of skill at a certain moment in time. So many writers use talent as an excuse to not do something. That excuse comes in a ton of different forms. “I already know that, so I don’t have to learn more.” “I’m not talented at doing (blank), so not going to try that.” “Dean and Kris can do this, but I can’t.” And on and on and on. Basically this talent myth grows out of fear, out of laziness, out of a person’s past. Using the talent myth in either direction will stop you, hold you back, and…
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Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing: You Must Be Talented to Be a Professional Writer
(This is a vastly updated chapter on this topic from six years ago if it sounds slightly familiar. But it needs to be a chapter in the new Sacred Cows book.) Chapter Four The word “talent” has been used for a very long time to destroy writers. I have always believed that the word is the worst myth of them all in publishing, so here goes a chapter that I’m sure will be annoying to some people. Especially to those of you who think you are talented. Okay, first to my trusty and well-worn Oxford American Dictionary for a standard definition. Talent: Special or very great ability, people who have…