What Does it Take to Succeed (as a writer)? by Elena Hartwell
Many years ago, I asked my first acting teacher what was more important, natural talent or commitment to learning the craft? He didn’t even stop to think about it. “Tenacity,” he said. “Tenacity wins out every time.” I never actually pursued a career in acting — though I did get some very nice reviews from the only show I ever did in New York — but as a writer I’ve often thought about the same question. What makes a writer rise to the top? My answer? Working on craft… and tenacity. Tenacity is the component every writer needs, because everything else comes from there. Of course it’s nice to have both and I think most serious writers have at least a kernel of talent or they wouldn’t have anything to attach their tenacity to, but survivors in the arts keep at it. The last one standing really does get the part, the agent, the book deal… the wonderful, elusive, sought after, yes. When I got my book deal for One Dead, Two to Go , (and Two Dead Are Better Than One and Thre...