What is the most important aspect of professional writing?

1. 52

   Joe Cookposted 12 years ago

   What is the most important aspect of  professional writing?
   
   Which is more important and more integral to resounding success (however you may define it): Natural ability or relentless pursuit and dogged persistence?

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2. 60

   Wesley Meachamposted 12 years ago

   The best answer to this question is probably... yes.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   :-)
   Though personally I hope for the former while resorting to the later.

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      Island Tropicalposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Write what you know and know what you write about, as simple as that

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3. 71

   SidKempposted 12 years ago

   If you limit choices to those two, I would say "relentless pursuit and dogged persistence." In some sports and arts, there may be wide variations in natural talent. But everyone can speak, and anyone who can speak can write. So it's much more a matter of persistence, as I see it.
   
   But I would add, "Intelligent, self-reflective persistence with learning." The key is to do what needs to be done, and to do better at it as we go. Improve our weak spots. Be honest about the steps of writing and promoting our writing we avoid, and do not avoid them. Become a better writer and marketer all the time as we put it into action.
   
   In all fields of endeavor, that is the path to success. It's especially true in writing, where natural ability is less of a factor than, say, in pro basketball, where it really doesn't help to be 5' 8" tall, like I am.

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      Wesley Meachamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      These are very valid points.

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4. 89

   Jlbowdenposted 12 years ago

   I believe many people who pursue crafts such as art,or writing definitely have a natural ability, or you could say knack for it.  However it may be a bit more difficult to create a rough draft of an article, or essay on paper for example, if you do not have the desire and motivation to do so.  So to write for example, you really have to  be persistent and pursue it constantly as well. Just think of your recent post on this topic - you had the persistence to write your question here and had enough motivation to be persistent enough to write a few sentences right?  And all of the others who chimed in to answer this question, including myself were persistent in helping you answer your question.  You can look at it that way as an illustration as well.

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5. 83

   Rui Carreiraposted 12 years ago

   I would say relentless pursuit and dogged persistence, as talent isn't required to succeed, but the later is.
   
   Quite simply, that's the answer!

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6. 63

   Gail Meyersposted 12 years ago

   Maybe it is both, natural ability and relentless pursuit and dogged persistence?  Or, what one lacks in natural ability can be made up for with dogged persistence.

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7. 52

   cheetah786posted 12 years ago

   apart from natural ability good writing demand precise planing before setting to write and Professionals take the work seriously, not themselves..

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8. 43

   DDEposted 12 years ago

   You must know what you are writing about then publish be the expert in your article title then you will gain your platform.

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9. 73

   pagesvoiceposted 12 years ago

   Many people believe they have the ability to write, yet upon further examination of their work it becomes obvious they lack the natural talent essential to being a success. Of course, as you make clear, success can and does mean different things to different writers. I think if an aspiring author expresses a clearly defined natural ability to write regarding topics of interest, using descriptive language which will ultimately draw a reader into their story, then that is half the battle in achieving peer recognition. Then, at this juncture the writer can start to hone their art and that is when the dogged determination comes into play. Of course, what do I know? I'm just pecking away and playing with thoughts and words like so many others.

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      SidKempposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Can we really know that someone has, or lacks, natural talent? We only see the result. Excellent writing arises, perhaps from natural talent, perhaps from diligent effort. But can we really say that anyone can't become a good writer through effort?

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10. 68

    Rosana Modugnoposted 12 years ago

    If those two choices are the only ones you are offering, then I would say it's a little of both.  You can get better with practice, like everything else but it does require some natural talent.
    
    Not everyone can write well.  If that were true, then the entire world would be full of writers and everyone would be published.  It doesn't happen because there are bad writers out there who just do not have the capability of expressing themselves.
    
    There has to be a natural ability at some point;  imagination would be one, creativity would be another and the ability to form words in your head and actually get them on paper is not as easy as it sounds.  Some of us are not very articulate when speaking, so writing is how we prefer to communicate information.

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11. 65

    in4mativeposted 12 years ago

    Dogged persistence might do better in the short-run, though I believe well-written prose is always appreciated and will stand the test of time.
    The ability to write well can be learned with dogged persistence. Natural ability in order to write well is not necessarily required.

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12. 0

    Casimiroposted 12 years ago

    All I know is that the hardest part of writing for me is getting started. I put it off, put it off, but once I start I wonder why I didn't before.  
    
    To make money at it (thus, you can call yourself a professional) does take consistent pursuit and persistence, no doubt about it. It's a competitive field. I suppose a talented person could, say, whip out a NY Times bestseller their first time, but that must be rare, if it has ever happened. The rest of us have to work at it constantly.
    
    I hate to think about how much I'm getting paid right now by the hour, LOL!

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       SidKempposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Even a person with such talent would still have to write a whole novel - and that takes persistence!

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13. 63

    bizwinposted 12 years ago

    I will say, keep writing until you can write without thinking of the hours and days you put into the writing. Set goals, outline your plans, then write and the rest will be professional writter.

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       LauraD093posted 12 years agoin reply to this

       This is definitely a question that makes you go hmm...Getting started is always difficult for me but if I am dogged and persistent a natural process takes over and I find myself just falling into the rabbit hole just like Alice.

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14. 58

    abithewriterposted 12 years ago

    you must work hard, update your self. you must have ideas on latest treant for that reading is the most important thing  .
    
    so update yourself by reading you will surely be a good writer.

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15. 92

    MarleneBposted 12 years ago

    Of the two choices, I put my vote in for "relentless pursuit and dogged persistence". When you say "professional" writing, I have the illusion that you mean someone who is paid to write, or who is paid for what they have written. Success, in that aspect means the writer sees a pay check at the end of the written work.
    
    Writing is a craft and like any craft, it can be taught. A person with natural abilities my have an easier time writing, however they may have dificulties with other aspects of writing, such as marketing their work. As a professional, writing is only part of the job. Professionals also have to market their work. That's where I feel some writers need additional talent. The first book I ever wrote came easy to write. The hard part was going on the road, attending book signings, making those phone calls to bookstores and libraries, etc. It was endless work, but I had to do it if I wanted my book to sell. I had to be relentless and persistent to get the book sold. Natural ability had very little to do with being a successful writer in the context of what I classify as successful.

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16. 94

    jansharesposted 12 years ago

    I would say natural ability, along with a good grasp of basic skills (sentence structure, correct grammar, and correct spelling). I hate when I publish a hub and my sister (my dear angel editor) calls me to say, "you have two typos." AAAHHHHRRGGG!!! It can be an immediate turn-off to see mistakes, no matter how good the topic or content is or how thorough the research. No matter how persistent you are about being successful, you have to have the basics. That often is dictated by exposure, elementary education, and practice.

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    getitriteposted 12 years ago

    I think the natural ability to flow is the most important aspect of writing.  If the ideas don't flow in a manner in which the reader finds interesting, then your writing lacks stimulation.  Dogged persistence only pays off if the ability to make the writing flow is obtained somewhere during the relentless pursuit.
    
    The natural ability to foreshadow and the mastering of metaphors is important to good writing.  Also, the natural ability of being mindful of your thesis sentence in each paragraph, and writing all subsequent sentences to flow into a smooth transition for your next paragraph and thesis helps immensely.
    
    My dogged persistence helped me find my natural abilities.  Some were immediate, and some were found along the way.

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       SidKempposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I see it differently. I agree that flow, foreshadowing, mindfulness of thesis,and metaphors are essential to great writing. But I have a dozen books that teach how to do those things. I see all of these as skills we can learn.

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