A "Good" Writer

"Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work." - Stephen King

I'm a writer, but what does being a writer mean?

1. Does it mean being grammatically correct at all times?
2. Does it mean being an awesome speller?
3. Does it mean being able to expertly edit your own stuff?
4. Does it mean that you can simply convey meaning through the written word?
5. Does it mean being published?
6. More specifically, does it mean being published in print and not just online?

I have been told that I am a good writer. I know that I enjoy writing and that it has always been a hobby and passion. I enjoy creative writing. I enjoy being informative. I'm a storyteller. I'm a communicator.

Although I am an avid reader, I know that my grammar isn't perfect and that I struggle with spelling (spellcheck is a blessing and a curse). I also know that the more I write, the better I become. I have fallen out of touch with serious writing for years, but I'm writing more these days and honing my skills. I know I can get better.

If you are unable to communicate using the written word, then you may not be a good writer. If you have nothing to say, then you're not a good writer.

Editing can make good content into great content, but editing cannot make bad content into great content. Sometimes, though, editing can make great content into not-so great content.

Here are my very humble answers to the above questions:

1. No.
2. No.
3. No.
4. Yes and no.
5. Yes and no. 
6. No. (Wishful thinking?)

Steve Martin explains it best with the following quote:

"The conscious mind is the editor, and the subconscious mind is the writer. And the joy of writing, when you're writing from your subconscious, is beautiful – it's thrilling. When you're editing, which is your conscious mind, it's like torture."

I don't think editing my own work is complete torture, but I dislike it. I am never completely finished editing. I'm impatient and far from a perfectionist which I think helps me a lot. As a productive and successful writer, I don't think that you can be a perfectionist or else you'd go mad. You'd never finish anything.

That being said, I'm publishing this at 5:47am after being up for several hours. I will read this once more before clicking "publish." I may read this again. It all depends on how I feel. 

Man, I need an editor.