You’re a Talented Writer

Am I?

I purposefully start this post with a question because I know that most of those who know that I blog, think that I do so not because I have something to say but because they think that that’s my talent. All I can do is reply with this question. I delve this dialogue in this post.

What is talent?

Is it any special ability that you are born with? Is it something that most others can’t, but you can with the utmost ease? I reckon none of the questions need to be answered.

Your talent is your bent towards better focus and clarity in the application of a skill. It is mostly natural, but you can hone it over time. Talent isn’t something that you and I can’t learn. It is something that both you and I ALREADY have but may have failed to discover. For the most part of our life, we remain learners. Our talent is our sphere of flawless application of what we continue to explore and learn.

So, am I a talented writer? Maybe. Maybe not. Am I someone who can flawlessly describe what I intend to say? Definitely. From what I know and have experienced, this is a skill. And, if this is a skill, you too can learn to master this skill. Here’s how:

• Observe your triggers: Observe what made you do things. Observe what made you read, see, do, and write. Can you define it? No? But can you understand it? Can you describe it? Can you see how the thoughts and actions connect to your past, present, and future? Can you communicate what you were thinking before doing, while doing, and after you’re done? If you are affirmative, you can write about it.
• Wear different hats: Think as they would think. See things from the perspective of an observer. Don’t just play the doer, for not always will you like to see yourself in the first person. Become an audience to your own audience. Write from their perspective. Sometimes it is good to wear different hats. Especially when you are dealing with emotions. Play the characters of your story. Wear the hat of an author. But first, wear the hat of a reader.
• Learn to listen: This one’s tricky. Let me help you understand this how I’ve come to understand it. The reason the almighty gave us two ears but only one mouth is that He wants us to listen twice as much as we talk. Be all ears to what others are saying. But reserve an ear for your inner self. You talk to your inner self as you write. When you begin to listen to your silence, the readers begin to listen to what you write.

If you too are doing what I do, you too are as talented as anybody else. Just be on the write path and your talent will flourish.

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