Have you ever considered whether writing as a trade should be considered an art or craft? I know I have. Sometimes, when orders are bland and mundane, I can’t seem to find the artistic element, or at least it’s hidden among the SEO demands and the practical purpose of the ordered content. However, when it relates to the actual skill of writing, it seems there is a measure of art to be considered. Have you ever wondered when contemplating if you should hire a writer or not, if you are in fact employing an artist?
What Writing is Not
Before considering what writing is, let’s first look at what it isn’t. Many people have made the statement, “I want to write one day when I find the time.” The idea behind this statement is anyone and everyone can write, and that doing so simply requires the time and a desire. They assume it’s a skill you can simply acquire through practice and effort. While it’s true the technique of writing can improve with effort and writers can learn grammar rules, being able to write is a basic skill you are simply born with, at least in my opinion. I have personally had the gift to mold the written word uniquely since I was a young kid. In eighth grade, I wowed my teachers by being able to write an impassioned poem on slavery. I just have the ability to write. It’s important to note that even though writing is a skill that can be honed, but cannot be created out of the clear blue. Just as a person can either sing or they can’t, someone without the ability to write can learn technique but cannot assimilate the ability to write. Therefore, it’s safe to say, writing is not a learned skill. It is an inborn ability. Not everyone can write, but every writer can improve through increased focus on tasks and learning what is desired in each industry.
Is Writing a Craft or an Art?
So, if we have established writing isn’t as skill one can simply learn (although technique can be improved), it is then either a craft or an art. Crafters are people who can make something new and unique out of existing objects. They can combine beads, string and leather beautifully, or make a dress out of a pattern, thread and material. In short, they are good at combining things that alone wouldn’t be that valuable and transforming them into something interesting and worthwhile. However, they start with something, not nothing. Crafting can, in fact, be a learned skill. Sure, some people are naturally better at it than others, but it is a skill people can break down into small steps or a pattern and copy the craft even if they haven’t done it before.
Art, on the other hand, is making something out of nothing. It is taking a blank canvas and using paints to bring a landscape to life that previously was only in the artist’s head. I believe writing also should be included under the heading of art. It is the ability to take an idea or thought and then create words, not copy them from a pattern, to form an article, blog, or website landing page that communicates something valuable to the reader. Sure, writing fictional pieces can lend itself to more creativity and embodies the truly artistic aspect of writing more than copywriting. However, even when writing something for a practical purpose, a writer still forms words from mere ideas in order to create a piece of content for their client or themselves.
Art Combined With Skill Creates an Expert
Many people mistakenly assume that writing isn’t that hard. Sure, it’s true that some writers are better able to compose content than others. Perhaps, they have learned the “skills” necessary to put their innate gift into practical action. They have learned the formula for success, and they have, in essence, trained to be an expert in their field. Consider the fact that hotel pictures and those hanging in museums are technically both categorized as art, but one of them is much more refined and represents a greater skill level than the other. A quote on Quora stated it this way…the combining of genetic ability with training and skill to create art in written form:
“Art is the house where writing lives, and skills are the navigator to the address.”
What All This Means
In essence, writing is a combination of skills, which can be learned and honed to perfection, with a writer’s inborn ability to manipulate words purposefully. The freelance writers here at WA are all experts in the field of composition. They can take your ideas and put them into practical action. Contact us at WA to learn more about our highly skilled writers, who also happen to be experts with the written word. Let a true professional utilize their innate and learned skill to create superb content, and don’t forget to respect their abilities and appreciate their willingness to work with you in your next endeavor.
Brandie P. understands the importance of high-quality copywriting. She presents her clients in the best of light and is committed to communicating both factual and informative content. Her clients appreciate her attention to detail and her propensity to double check stats and make sure what she is writing is in fact absolutely true. As a result, clients can rest assured that the content Brandie creates is both beneficial to her clients and serves their purposes perfectly.
