Screenwriting : Screenwriters, is storytelling an innate talent? by Phillip E. Hardy, Prolifique

There's only so much you can teach. You can't teach creativity, but you CAN teach format and structure.

You cant teach having an ear for dialogue. Or natural story insticts. But storytelling... you can teach.

Yes, it's scientifically proven that some people have more creativity in their genes than others, so for them it's more innate than for those who don't have that type of makeup. At the same time, it's also been scientifically proven that creativity can be taught to anyone.

Agree with Erik on this one. I'd also say that creativity/storytelling can be fostered through teaching formatting and structure.

I compare writing to pro sports. Lots of professional benchwarmers and career journeymen but very few Hall of Famers.

To me, there's a big difference between talent and creativity. People are born with talent (that they can choose to develop or ignore), but in my mind creativity is a state of consciousness. So those who live with self-awareness and reflection will naturally become more creative as they experience life. i.e. - I once had a disdain for cooking because I saw it as a mundane chore - then one day I just starting thinking about what I loved to eat and why. It soon occurred to me that cooking could be a process I could express myself through - by picking the flavors, textures, and colors that turned me on from all the cultures and places I'd enjoyed. That shift in thinking (expansion of awareness or consciousness) turned cooking into a fun, enjoyable and very creative experience. I see storytelling in much the same way - combining elements of story/dialog/plot/ and visuals in interesting ways that express something unique. Like story soup. :)

I think it is. Just as writing is. They are different talents and don't really have anything to do with one another, but I think some people have the "story gene" and some the "writing gene" and very few have both. (I'm talking talent here, not craft).

I would have to say that creativity is something that can't be taught, even if multiple classes are taken or books are read. The proper format and editing can be somewhat taught, but to have a story flow from beginning to end can only be done by using the creative portion of one's talent. I'm sure we've all read a book or script that lost us after the first page.

I believe storytelling is a natural talent but for production, the presentation must conform to the "industry's" standard for acceptance.

Both. You need to have the talent, and the education to harvest that talent. Some people have all kinds of talent, but have no idea how to use it. Others have limited talent, lots of education... and can write screenplays that might even get read. Though this is completely arbitrary - I think if someone can tell a joke really well, they have the raw talent to write a screenplay. A good joke is a story that you must make the listener believe... and then you must twist and turn the elements of that story to produce humor.

I agree with William and that it's both. Both the talent, or the inherent talent to craft a really compelling story, as well as the education, are what makes great stories. But also with the experience of watching numerous movies and reading numerous screenplays that really help too.

There is no such thing as "inate talent" and this is easily proven. No one is born able to write. Therefore it is not inate. The idea of "inate" talents comes from people wanting to think they're somehow better than others.

It's this: Linguistic intelligence ("word smart") Read this for more: http://www.institute4learning.com/multiple_intelligences.php

Speaking from a songwriter's standpoint, I think that creativity and storytelling go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other. Speaking from an actor's standpoint, I can assure you that literally everybody is creative. Do you remember how when you were a child and made up some game with your friends (and I know you did) where you were a cowboy or princess and your friend was someone else? That's creativity. Storytelling is nothing more than a chain of ideas or elements of ideas put together. In short, storytelling isn't something that you "have", it's something that you just "do". And as always, practice makes perfect. It's a simple learning by doing and learning by watching/reading kinda thing!

I did in a small documentary if you have enough patience to follow it to the end. It's here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6FaeTbQkBA&t=8s

Claude , you asked such a pertinent question that bears its own answer. You mentioned Hemingway,Twain, John wayne. I add John Steinbeck,Thomas Edison: none had a degree and yet they are landmarks in american litterarture so...

Claude Gagne in French means Claude wins!!!

Claude: I already have my opinion but I was looking to stimulate a discussion. But thank you for asking.

Here is a scientific paper on why talent is extremely overrated: http://timelessrepo.com/why-there-is-no-talent

I agree with those that say it's both. I don't think a person can be taught to have a story to tell, but can be taught what elements of the story to develop or how to make it more fluid. But beyond that, the impact of the work depends on the screenwriter. It can be said that talent is the ability to take all the pieces and turn them into something relatable, something the audience can connect with. I screen a lot of films and after watching most of them my response is generally "that was great, but I just don't care." I don't think it's possible to teach heart.

The is a good question. I think once screenwriting and story telling can be taught and with a lot of practice anyone can write a screenplay that is up to industry standards.

I'm going to organize a pitch Fest camping trip, where I invite writers and low-level producers and executive assistants. I'll charge screenwriters $150 for the weekend and they can pitch crappy log lines around a campfire while roasting marshmallows.

Innate talent is a requirement. The proponents of the "writing can be taught" school that I've encountered are teachers, who depend on teaching storytelling for a living, and people who are very poor writers, but hope to improve. Humans are geared to pick up on stories, but not all are good at telling them. Recognizing a standout story is a gift in it's own right, but not a sign of storytelling talent. One of my best editors doesn't know how to tell stories and struggles with writing her own work, but has never given me a poor critique. If I talk to her about stories that I'm working on, though, her suggestions don't work, yet she knows how to correct flaws in a finished product. Workshops, classes and books play a large role in improving and cultivating talent, but it has to be there to begin with. Schooling will take a poor writer and make them decent, but without the initial spark a writer will never be good or great. Hollywood and what's left of the modern publishing industry have drilled into our heads that there's a formula to be followed, which alienates the true creatives from the process. They're more concerned with revenue numbers than storytelling. Businessmen know how to make money, not tell stories. Buying into their opinions of the craft perpetuates a falsehood, much in the same way that not voting for third party candidates damns them to failure. It's self-fulfilling. John Hughes left for a reason. Creativity is not valued in professional writing. That's a big reason why MFA programs teach paint by numbers writing and Save The Cat is a best seller.

Tony: Insightful, well thought out post. Thank you and Happy New Year my friend!

I believe story craft can be learned. (Work-ethic is the game-changer in all endeavors.) What hasn't been talked about is our belief system. What we believe becomes our truth. For the creatives who believe story telling can't be taught - this is very much your truth.

I believe with hard work and perseverance anything can be achieved but time is the difference. How long will it take you to get to where you want to be? I think this is where talent plays a part. If you lack natural talent it may take you far longer to reach where you want to be, or you may never achieve it. Talent allows you to reach the top much faster.

@Phillip: Thank you. @Peter Maya: That's a good point, but, in terms of success and achievement, luck plays a huge role. I know writers who are more talented than me that haven't earned dime despite their hard work because they didn't connect with the right person at the right time. Hard work and talent are essential, but I'd be arrogant if I attributed all my success to my skill.

I agree with those that say you need both but unfortunately Lady Luck plays the biggest role of all. The only way to make the odds better is to make "make contacts" because contacts are everything in this business. Good luck to everyone here in 2017.