The relationship between creativity and talent is a rocky one. For years I’ve heard variations of, “Do I need talent to be a good writer?” with “writer” easily substituted by other creative professions like painter, sculptor, and musician. At first, I was the one asking the question, an insecure teen wondering if I’d ever make it in an artistic field. Then, I was the one getting asked. This question popped up both inside and outside the creative communities I frequented, sometimes used as a conversation starter in art school get-togethers and other times by coworkers angling for a discreet way to humble-brag about their current creative project. But, of all the situations where the question is posed, none are more disheartening than when it comes from someone taking their first shaky steps into a new creative venture. 

The Oxford Dictionary defines talent as “natural aptitude or skill”. The key word in that definition is “natural”. Most of us, when ascribing talent to an individual’s work or profession, believe their ability to be innate, something they’re born with. We see Van Gogh’s eye for form and color, Freddie Mercury’s expansive vocal range, or Stephen King’s immense writing output and figure, without talent, there’d be no way to accomplish all they have. But that same exciting idea of inborn talent can be as discouraging as it is inspiring — because, no matter how much you may love writing, drawing, or playing piano, it may not come naturally. And, without that immediate spark of inborn competency, many newcomers believe they’re destined to fail. 

Which sucks. 

The idea that talent is the only marker of creative success is a damaging one. It stops people from pursuing passions or trying new things. I’ve heard many folks say they wish they could draw, wish they could write, wish they could dance, but that, “they have no talent”, so they don’t even try. While talent may give some creatives a head start on their chosen paths, it is by no means the only way towards creative excellence. It’s my opinion that dedication to a skill, not talent, is how writers and artists become truly successful– and the ability to learn a skill is not dictated by talent.

Skill is simply defined as “the ability to do something well” or “a particular ability”. There is nothing innate about skill. Skills can be gained by anyone through time and hard work. They aren’t locked behind any genetic predisposition, and they aren’t only available to a lucky few. Anyone, and I do mean anyone, can decide to choose a skill and commit themselves to it. Whether you haven’t written since high school English class or haven’t drawn since your parents were putting your preschool stick figures on the fridge, you have the ability to learn, regardless of age or talent.  

What the talent vs. skill argument boils down to is an age-old conversation in the scientific community: Nature vs. Nurture. For decades, researchers have hunted for answers about whether our personhood is built into our DNA or given to us through exposure from our familial environments, with studies ranging from our sexuality to our favorite foods. There is no definitive answer, but most scientists have settled on a happy medium: it’s a bit of both. Who you are is a combination of your parents’ genes and how you were raised, with a bit of life experience thrown in for flavor. Similarly, nature and nurture both play a part in your ability to perform your favorite activities, in the form of talent and skill. 

As an example: Back in my hometown, there was a family known for their ability to run. Both parents had been successful runners in their youth and, as a result, passed down their combined “runners” genes to their children. Nearly every child inherited their parents’ slim waists and long legs, giving them a natural “boost” to their running ability compared to their peers, marking them as athletically talented as teens. Their parents and teachers, seeing this talent, nurtured their children, encouraging them to join sports and push themselves to do their best. As a result, more than one of the kids broke state records and received athletic scholarships to prestigious colleges. Had their parents not signed them up for sports, had the children not had adults in their lives who cared about their interests or future, that talent would not have brought them to state competitions or allowed them to attend colleges across the country. It was the skills that were nurtured and the hard work each of the kids put in that brought that talent to fruition, much like Stephen King’s wife allowing him to skip out on household chores to write or Van Gogh’s brother financially and emotionally supporting his art career. 

Though the combined power of talent and skill can lead to truly exceptional individuals, natural talent isn’t needed to put time and effort into a skill. Maybe those runners wouldn’t have broken state championships without that extra genetic advantage, but the amount of work they put in likely would have brought them to state championships anyway. The same can be said for any ability: the more time you devote, the more you nurture yourself and find others to help nurture that ability within you, the more your skills will grow. Talent is helpful, but it is not a requirement for becoming proficient in an activity. I’m certainly not athletically gifted, but that doesn’t stop me from working towards a handstand in yoga. My husband struggles with music, but that hasn’t dissuaded him from learning to dance. If you want to write, draw, or sing, all you need to do is commit to it. Skill and competency will follow, talent or not. 

So, instead of asking, “Do I need talent to be a good writer?”, ask, “What do I need to do to become a good writer?” Rid the word “talent” from your vocabulary and instead make a plan, set aside time, and execute it. You likely won’t be good right away– few are– but you’ll be on the path towards actualizing your goals. And, as the ever-wise Jake the Dog says, “Dude, suckin’ at something is the first step to being sorta good at something.” 

Until next time my skillful friends, happy reading and happy sipping.