the craft. consistency vs. talent
Photo by Anh Tuan To on Unsplash
When I was first starting out in the music industry, my mom would always ask me why certain people weren’t more popular than they were. “They can sing,” she would say. It took me some time after getting my feet wet and spending time with more artists to learn exactly why that seemed to occur. It was actually pretty simple. Often, the most talented people I met didn’t work as hard as those one might consider marginally talented.
My own theory, oftentimes people assume talent will take them the places they need to go. Not the case. Talent, in a sense, can make you lazy. It’s not solely about talent in music and I’d say it’s similar in writing as well. Having one foot in music and the other in writing often helps me draw these types of parallels. The industries have a lot more similarities than differences.
Just the other day in meeting up with some writing friends we were discussing a couple of recent titles that received much acclaim but to our shock, most of us didn’t enjoy them. I wouldn’t dare name them because the reality is, whether we like a book or not, they are damn hard work. So I would never want to put down another author, specifically ones that look like me. But in either case, it was a reminder that just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s good.
I know that the literary and media worlds can seem like places of prestige and all about the integrity of the work but that’s not the sole truth. When people are, for instance, buying your book, they are not just thinking about the work. They are thinking about you, your connections, your audience and even dare I say it, your own marketability. Will you be able to talk in front of an audience? Are you personable? Can you hold good convos with book sellers and librarians, etc. It’s more than just the work.
So, what I think tends to separate those that find success in their craft and those who may not is the work and more importantly the consistency. Ta’Nehisi Coates has this interview that I swear by. Of course, randomly scrolling the internet one day I came across it. And essentially Coates was saying that success in writing is literally your ability to keep going. I’m paraphrasing here, but his idea was that writing is hard and so many people will quit. If you have the mental stamina and the ability to keep writing consistently, you are eventually going to meet those writing goals. And you will have learned so much along the way, that you’ll be better than others when you get there. Wherever there is for you.
No problem using myself as an example here. When I read the work of my friends in my writing group, I literally feel like I should put the pen down and focus on my career as a music executive. LOL. There are tons of writers that are more talented than me. But not as many that will work as hard or as consistently as I do. And I am adding some dramatic effect here because what I’ve actually learned is that I too, am a talented writer and there is space for what everyone brings to the table. But I digress. The important thing here is that I’ve been writing for a very long time. And beginning to see so much fruit from over 10 years of writing, specifically for public consumption, is well earned. And it’s true what Coates was saying. I’m smarter, wiser, and improving as a writer every single day.
We set these lofty goals as writers. But one thing I’ve learned to do is focus a lot more on the process than the end result. If I write 30 minutes a day, I will finish the book. Or regardless of word count, if I write every day, I know I’ve done the work. Focus on how you can be consistent and I promise it will take you far.
This doesn’t mean that talent is not a factor. Or that everything that receives acclaim is overrated. Sometimes, yes, books and writers are that good! But it’s to say that we don’t have to get hung up on being the best. I remember going to a therapy session years back where the counselor told me, “It seems like you’re always focused on being the best. What about if you just focused on being your best.” Life changing. Those simple words gave me permission to put down that heavy ass burden I’d been carrying since I was a kid in school trying to get straight As at all times.
You don’t have to be the best. You just have to be consistent and willing to put in the work.
Writing/Job Opportunities
Submissions are open for new VS Co-Hosts. Are you interested in hosting a pod about poetry? Deadline: August 20th.
Adrian Rivera is accepting pitches for New York Times Opinion. Take a read of what he’s looking for. adrian.rivera@nytimes.com
Huffington Post is hiring for multiple positions.
The Dutton, Plume, and Tiny Reparations Books is hiring a Marketing Manager.
If interested in applying, please reach out to me so I can give a heads up to my contact.
Penguin Random House is hiring for an entry level position, Editorial Assistant.
Idea Architects is hiring an Editorial Director.
NBC Out is hiring a Reporter.
Vox Media is hiring a Senior Writer for Foreign Policy.
The Paris Review is hiring an Assistant or Associate Editor.
New York Magazine is hiring a Newsletter Writer.
To Be Read
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