Stegner on Writing

Posted on May 8, 2004 by sheila

Wallace Stegner was asked whether creative writing can be taught. He gave a two-part answer:

1. It can be done.
2. It can’t be done to everybody.

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4 Responses to Stegner on Writing

  1. Janellle says:
    May 9, 2004 at 4:12 am

    Now that is wisdom.

  2. Emily says:
    May 9, 2004 at 11:12 am

    I always liked the answer Professor Tripp gave about teaching writing in Wonder Boys, something along the lines of you can’t really teach a person to write, you can only tell them what you know. Some people “have it”, others don’t, but you still encourage them to keep with it either way, since that’s the only way they’ll get to where they’re going.

    Oh, and it helps if you know where you want to go to begin with. Me, I’m going to Sheffield (that will make sense to you at some point in the future, I promise).

  3. red says:
    May 9, 2004 at 2:10 pm

    Robin Williams came and did a seminar at my school – someone asked him if “comedy” could be taught.

    He was blunt. “No.”

    He elaborated: “I could watch an actor trying to be funny – and I could say: ‘If you pause there … you will get a laugh.’ Either you have an ear for it or you don’t. You can learn ‘tricks’ – but that’s about it.”

    And Sheffield … hmmmm

  4. MikeR says:
    May 10, 2004 at 11:36 pm

    Wallace Stegner – that’s a name from my past. Angle Of Repose was one of the first pieces of literature I read. I was probably 14 or 15, and it was in a batch of paperback books I had gotten from my uncle (he worked for a book and magazine distribution company). I’m sure I still have that book somewhere…

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