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Dan Simmons on Writing Well

Dan Simmons, aside from being an amazing writer of science fiction (among other genres), is also of the school of mind that writing is a craft that can be taught. That is, writing well. There are those who say writing is an innate talent. You either have it or you don’t, and if you don’t, well…maybe you’ll get published by luck and your success will be a fluke of the publishing industry.

However, Simmons has spent many years working to prove this perspective wrong, both by working to further his own writing skill, as well as teaching others how to write well.

http://www.dansimmons.com/writing_welll/archive/2006_01.htm

Having had the chance to read several of his amazing science fiction epics, Olympos and Ilium, as well as getting the chance to hear him speak at the Pike’s Peak Writers conference earlier this year, I can attest that he is an incredible writer and knows well what he teaches. Check out his website and the forums, which are always full of interesting conversations and arguments over the state of modern writing and literature. Plenty of material to sift through, lots of great advice that is thought-provoking, controversial, and inspirational.

My brief opinion on this topic is that yes, one can be taught to write well. It is a craft, and while some do start out with a certain gift, most people have to learn what tools to use, how and when to use them, and so on. Some are going to be better than others, just in the same way that some folks are born able to play masterpieces on the piano, some learn to play masterpieces after decades of practice, and some (like myself) put a piano out of tune just by being in the same room with it. It takes all types.

I see that smile.

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