There is probably some correlation, some link or connection, between temperament/personality and talent. Edited for detail: For example, would an inattentive and daydreaming loner find it harder than say an outgoing, perceptive and gregarious type?
I'd say sheer bull-headed stubborness, and vunerability (can't be imaginative if you're not at least a little vunerable).
I don't think "talent" is connected to one personality type over another, really. But according to the Myers Briggs Personality Inventory folks, introverted, intuitive, feeling, judging folks are inclined toward the arts (and, incidentally, that very particular category is the rarest of all of 'em); and in another forum of writers we did discover there were more of us who fell into that category than those who were more extroverted (than introverted), more sensitive (than intuitive), more thinking (than feeling) and more perceptive (than judging). It was kind of surprising. Don't have a clue what to make of it, though.
Dedicated. You must be able to develop a habit of writing often. I believe you can be a writer if you lack imagination, but you must be imaginative to write fiction.
The ability to juggle essential aspects of the story with those little details about the character that, while not essential to the story itself, make the character come to life.
To me the core trait of a good writer is someone who writes because they feel have to, because it's something that comes out of them and gives them it's own value. People who get into writing because they want to make a name for themselves or get instant success or just imitate a popular trend usually aren't very good writers. They may have a talent, but it's buried in layers of insincerity. Even bad writing is somewhat tolerable when it comes across like the person really wants to say something and it's obvious they're doing it for it's own reward, not because they want to get some kind of fame.
Well in the lounge we were discussing what we did other than write, and a lot of it was similar- music/art that sort of thing. An interesting question would be to find out how many writers here are left handed compared to right handed. The theory goes that left handers are more creative and imaginative because they're hooked into the other side of the brain. Statistically, only one in ten people is left handed. I am left handed. I agree with the perseverence and determination, and also with the vulnrability. I think most writers I've met also have a sort of unique ability to stand themselves outside the world and take a good look in. The sort of person who could be in a crowded room and feel alone sort of idea. I could be havering though.
Well, there's the obvious traits: intelligence, creativity, imagination, common sense, language and communication skills, confidence, stubbornness, a sense of humor and being a very good liar. Aside from that, I would say and important ability is to be able to analyze and discern. To tell good ideas from bad ideas, good advice from bad advice, but also look at these things and figure out why they are good, why they are bad, and how that relates to ones writing. Also, having a lot of faith in your instincts and subconscious. Actually, having an open mind in general.
An innate hatred of mankind so deep and overpowering that it causes you to make prose effigies and amalgamations of your acquaintances in order to torture them over and over and over again with malicious one-in-a-million coincidences. The charisma to make people pay you to do that.
That made my day! I'd have to say stubbornness and imaginative would be the two main personality traits to make a good writer. Provided the skills are already there!
I'm INTP myself. I don't think it really has any bearing on my writing, as far as I can tell, although we INTPs tend to be daydreamers and ideas people which are both going to be useful for writers.
I'm an INFJ. I think you're going to see that "N" in most writers. [N means more abstract than concrete.]
Ah. If you were god you would have just shot down my dream. Thankfully you are not(I think ), and I can be the exception to prove that statement wrong
I was waiting for someone to say something like that. Y'know. sitting in front a a keyboard all day writing about imaginary characters who have imaginary problems and conversations - for other people who, in all l;ikelyhood, don't give a rat's crap about any of it. I have a firm beleif that writers can be very strange people, if not for that reason alone.
