BioWare Blog: How to Score a Writing Job, Part Two
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The first problem when it comes to people wanting to become a writer is that they think anyone can do it. It's no doubt the same problem that was faced by the screenwriters in Hollywood when they went on strike recently. People who aren't writers don't often respect it as a skill. But it is a skill. It requires practice and dedication. It's no different than painting; someone may be talented enough that they pick up painting quickly, or show a real flair for the painting that they do, but without developing that skill they're never going to actually become good.
This is not to say that skill is more important than talent. You can be the most proficient painter in the world, yet without talent it's never going to amount to much. Same thing with writing. I don't know everything about writing (and it turns out I need to unlearn some of the things I do know) but I've learned that assuming you know everything is as dangerous as assuming you know anything. The point is that it needs work, and just because you may think you can whip up a masterful plot or a brilliant dialogue the truth is that it's definitely going to be harder than you think.
