Numbers Win (see disclaimer)
Number of blog article drafts I find unworthy of publishing: 61. That’s pretty high. Some are unfinished, most are just blah or self-centered, and there’s at least another thirty on my netbook. I think back to the days when I used to blog every day, and now I wonder how I did it.
I have a 4,000ish-word essay in an anthology coming out in April. I’d read the 15ish book series before, but I read them all again to write it. The first essay I wrote for it fell flat and boring and blah.
After the blah attempt, I read the whole series a third time, taking 112,500 words of notes and quotes. (The Kindle makes it easy.) There are, I kid you not, 26 files of attempts, drafts, or notes on this essay in my Essays folder.
(When I was little and had to report my practice times to my piano teacher, I gave numbers that were less than what I’d practiced, so she wouldn’t think me untalented.)
Fiction is much easier on me.
But still, I’ve written over twenty-three 35K-76K novels and novellas for Pseudie (I have a habit of losing stuff once completed, so that number could be higher.) and 50-60ish short stories. Three or four series.
I really only like the last series I wrote, but I can never read my work without cringing at something.
I just re-read the series I wrote before that one, and am disappointed to have to demote it from the I-thought-it-was-decently-written category to the I-don’t-know-why-people-like-this-but-I-do-miss-the-characters category. Still, I am relieved to know that I keep making definite, visible progress with each book I write. (Her first books weren’t very good. She progressed. Her story gives me faith.)
I definitely needed the practice, and I’m quite relieved my stuff is out there under a pseudonym.
The point of this embarrassing confession is that if there’s one thing I’ve taken away from having taught music to hundreds and hundreds of students, it’s that talent doesn’t mean much. “Born” talent was always more a predictor of failure than success, and “Talent Education” is not just a Suzuki sales pitch, but a definite, proven, successful process.
Talent can be taught.
Talent Education is NOT about teaching the already-talented; Suzuki principles are about instilling, creating, and developing talent.
The age you start does make a big difference, but even that can be overcome, as can anything else. I had a student with four fingers on one hand who competed on a state-level. Most of my “talented” students did not come that way; they were made. And no one but another teacher would believe me if you heard them play. Some were even remarkably untalented, in the beginning.
The takeaway is that with enough *smart* practice, talent is indistinguishable from hard work. This article on talent is right.
The inspiration is that on any given day, no matter how much you suck or just feel like you suck, if you practice smart and you go for the numbers, you’ll come out ahead.
What think you? What keeps you going, when the going gets rough? When your faith falters?
* Disclaimer: If you do the same thing in the same way you’ll get the same result.
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Natasha Fondren is a writer traveling the U.S. in a camper with her four cats. She is currently enjoying the lizards and desert heat in Arizona.
My goal in life is to have the output of Natasha Fondren.
My goal is to be as brilliant as you without needing the output!
Cripes, you’re a writing machine!
My opinion is to do creative work you must have the talent and talent cannot be taught but that many of the people with the most talent fail probably because having talent gives them the idea they don’t have to work to put the talent to good use.
My dad, who taught high school art and won awards for his watercolors claimed that talent meant nothing.
LOL, Eric. I wish I were more of one! I think most teachers worth their salt would claim the same thing.
I don’t know why I have faith in myself, but I do. A friend today asked me how many books I’ve written. Instead of answering (which would be “I don’t know”), I winced and said that many of them aren’t good and I wouldn’t send them out. But I get better with each book. It doesn’t come from practice, I work at getting better. It’s my goal.
Yeah, that makes sense. If you keep practicing in the same way, you’ll get the same results! I don’t know why I have faith in myself, either!
Natasha, great article link. I believe talent is not enough, and that if you don’t have it, you can easily get on an equal footing with someone who does by working at it. The person who works hardest will be the best at it. Simple as that.
That’s what I think, Michelle. I mean, look at Tiger Woods. I don’t believe he was talented; he was just grown to be talented from young age.
If I didn’t write, Natasha, I’d have to develop a social life!
Man, I could do with a little less of a social life, lately.
I agree that you have to work to be good at anything, but I also think that a certain amount of talent is involved. In terms of sports, some people just aren’t coordinated and no amount of practice will ever improve their game. With dance, some people just can’t ‘hear’ the music and will never get it.
WIth writing, the rules are more concrete and can be learned, but still, some people just don’t ‘get’ it and no amount of practice will get them to the level they want.
*shrugs*
I don’t mean to say you must have talent to be successful, but it doesn’t hurt.
I think the age that you start has a lot to do with it. It’s hard to make up for your first year and even few months of life; how parents exercise and interact with their babies is bigtime influential in that department. And I would concede that their might be a talent for learning itself, which influences all. I’m not sure.
I do think talent combined with drive can be great, but it also can start to be a hindrance when people rely on it too much. That’s when all the books start to sound the same, when an artist can’t climb to the next level.
My son plays drums. He’s not a natural, but he’s a drummer, for sure. He has to work for it, and I’m so glad.
Betsy, as a teacher, I found talent to be a handicap. Of course, I couldn’t say that to the parents, because the first thing parents ask when there’s a challenge is, “Does he have any talent? Is this worth it?”
Which is a confusing question to me.
Faith keeps me going. Dumb, blind faith. But…
There are so many variables that go into success, and I believe that talent is one. But if a writer’s goal is publication, a lot depends on just plain old luck. You know? Right place, right time, yada yada. No matter how much a writer writes, in the end it seems to depend on what’s “in” at that particular time, or whatever mood-swing agent/editor is in when reading your manuscript.
So very many variables, Kath! Although, I think being on the internet makes it feel much harder than it needs to feel to get published.
Fabulous thought, Natasha, and I totally agree. Sometimes I take what I read on blogtopia too seriously (it’s my nature I guess), which is why I’ve cut a few off my blog-hop list.
In a moment of faltering faith, I love this post! Today I am reorganizing closets and wondering why I have spent so much time on writing. Why? Tomorrow will come, and I’ll get sucked back into writing, but right now, I’m saying, why???!
I love your disclaimer. Absolutely right.
So, what do I do when my faith falters? I take a short break, do whatever I have been ignoring due to writing because I can’t do it all (as much as I try…) and remember that I can’t do everything this very second. And then I ignore the impossible goals that are always in my head, and just start revising the next word, the next sentence, the next paragraph, the next chapter. The equivalent of putting one foot in front of the other and forcing myself into forward motion. As long as I’m pointed in the direction of my goal, I’m bound to get there sometime, right???!
And I read blog posts like this one. Thanks
One foot in front of the other is what I focus on, most days. I can’t tell you how many times I tell myself, “Even if this sucks, just write one more sentence!” LOL!
Isn’t the drive that keeps us writing a little bewildering, Heather? I find it so.
PS–I learned to play the piano by the Suzuki method.
Oh awesome, Heather! I used Suzuki principles, but I made my kids killer sight-readers from the beginning, at least in my last few years. That’s the only drawback to the Suzuki method, and I think it’s only a drawback with piano, not with other instruments.
Hi again, Natasha. After reading this post I started doing some research on the Suzuki method. Not only is it not motorcycle related, but it’s actually quite interesting.
Some GREAT stuff, Rick! I’m going to see if I have any books. Might be worth it to talk about how some of the principles could help writers!
Wow, Natasha – this the third article in a row on this subject that I stumbled upon today. I wasn’t looking for them – it appears they came looking for me. Guess the universe is telling me to stop procrastinating and start practicing.
Thanks for sharing!
Amen, Kate!
Especially you! I want to see more of your stories! 
It seems like most writers have talent, and some practice and get wonderful, and some practice and get really good, and then there’s the whole luck thing for how books get selected and catch on. I wish I were the type of person who could be great without practice, but I’m not, and I never will be. I still study like crazy for my boards, and to keep up with my field. I never feel like I can sit down, sigh, and say, “OK. That’s enough.” Too bad my body wants to say that a lot.
I’m not, either, Robin. I once was talented in a few areas, and it did hinder me a lot. I see talent as a handicap more than anything else, LOL!
Good stuff on Natasha Fondren » Numbers Win (see disclaimer). I even agree with most of it!