Is it talent or skill?

Last week, I saw a hot take that pops up every now and again. It was a screen shot where an artist said anyone can draw; it just requires the dedication to do it. Another guy, of course, jumped in to say visual artists are the only people who think like that, and no musicians or actors “pretend” that everyone can do what they do.

Putting aside the fact that I’ve known many musicians, actors, artists, and authors who would happily encourage anyone interested in their art to pursue it, there’s a bigger question. Do artists have some fantastic, mystical power that only they possess, or are they just regular people who dedicated themselves to the art?

Every now and then I see this conversation pop up in writing groups. Is it a talent you’re born with or a skill that you learn? On one side, you’ll have people arguing that it’s strictly a skill and anyone can do it. On the other, people think that if you’re not born with the storytelling gene, you can never be a great writer.

In my opinion, they’re both right … and they’re both wrong.

I believe in natural talent. I’ve seen it firsthand. I also believe that, if you work hard enough, you can learn to do just about anything you want. Let me tell a story from my own experience.

I enjoy playing guitar. I have zero natural talent for it. Every note that I’ve tortured out of the instrument, I’ve struggled and worked my butt off to achieve. Back when I was practicing every day and playing regularly, I’d say I reached decent status. Never good or great, but I was decent.

Back in high school, I’d been playing for several years when I had a friend who wanted to learn guitar. I sat down with him, taught him his first chords, and let him borrow a tab book I had. I came back to his house about a month later, thinking I’d show him a few other things, and the guy was already playing circles around me, doing things that I couldn’t dream of doing. He had natural talent. He put in the time, no doubt, but once he started down the path, playing the guitar came to him as simply as breathing.

I suspect that pretty much any art is the same way. Some people just have a natural affinity for it.

That doesn’t mean that you can’t get really good at something if you don’t have that natural affinity. Hard work and dedication can make up for talent, to a point. If I’d been dedicated enough to spend four or five hours a day woodshedding with my guitar, I probably could have reached good status, but I most likely would never have been great.

But even people with natural talent have to learn the mechanics and techniques of the art. You don’t spring forth from the womb writing amazing stories or ripping off scorching solos. It just may be a little easier for you to figure out how to do those things.

I firmly believe that someone who busts their ass to learn an art can absolutely outwork and outshine a lazy person with natural talent.

But I also believe that when the person with talent works at it, the one who has learned it as a skill will never surpass them. I’m pretty sure there are not enough hours in the day for me to put in the practice that would have made me the equal of my friend. His ability grew by leaps and bounds in a very short time. Concepts and techniques came to him easily, while I fought with the fretboard for every single step I took forward.

So, is writing a talent you’re born with or a skill you can learn? Yes, it is.

If you happen to have that natural talent, don’t waste it. Put in the work. If you don’t, and it’s really something you want to do, the advice is the same. Get out there and grind. Put in the work.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you have to be touched by the gods to create art. Just get out there and do it. If you want to draw, pick up a pencil and start doodling. If you want to act, walk into your local community theater and ask them how you can get involved. If you want to write, put your butt in the seat and your fingers on the keyboard. If you want to play music, find someone to show you a few chords and get you started. Since you’re able to read this, you have a ton of options at your fingertips for help and instruction on whatever you want to do — from YouTube to Facebook groups.

If you’re drawn to it, go and do it. And even if you realize that, like me with guitar, you’ll never be great at it, always remember that enjoying something doesn’t require being the best at it.