What is talent?

What is talent?  This is a question I have asked my self for years in all of my creative endeavors, as a writer, photographer, and artist.



Theory: There is no such thing as talent, just skill.

Explanation: “He's just naturally talented."  I disagree there is no such thing as talent; we are all given the same tools for the job.  The English language hasn’t really changed all that much that I can tell from the early seventeen hundreds. A hammer is a hammer, but a skilled craftsman can build a house with it.

         

Being a good artist of any format requires years of honing you skills.  No one ever starts off putting out masterpieces it takes practice, pain, and suffering. (Anyone who has ever sat in front of the computer for eight hours working on a project knows where the pain and suffering comes from)



Microsoft word doesn’t have a Hemingway button and neither does your computer. But take heart in this,everyone who has ever touched a  keyboard, typewriter, or pen sucks. Poe sucked, Shakespeare sucked, Hemingway sucked, Kerouac sucked; at one time the most prolific writers in history sucked (maybe more than you think you do right now) and they struggled with the same emotions and issues about their writing that you do right now.



I know I suck. I cant spell, my use of grammar Is sketchy at best, but the important thing is I have a story in me. And I will keep working toward a goal, and right now that goal is to be appreciated: not famous, but recognized for what i am which is a skilled artist, of one kind or another.



Thank you for your time,



W.E. LePire