Writing. Maybe because everybody "writes" in other senses of the word, plenty of people think they could effortlessly write books and stories, even if they don't read them.
Yes, the language belongs to everyone.
No, you do not need to get a graduate degree in writing to be a good writer.
Yes, plenty of people with no formal training have become huge successes; look at J.K. Rowling. But the lack of formal training just means you need to train yourself.
I'm all in favor of everybody writing down their stories, if they want to. I'm a populist about writing. Nevertheless, I get almost as annoyed with the people who say, "I'm sure I could churn out a best-seller, if I ever sat down and tried," as I do with the people who sneer, "I'm afraid I don't read popular fiction. I'm only interested in Literature."
If I may point out a discipline you skipped. . . .
Yes, the language belongs to everyone.
No, you do not need to get a graduate degree in writing to be a good writer.
Yes, plenty of people with no formal training have become huge successes; look at J.K. Rowling. But the lack of formal training just means you need to train yourself.
I'm all in favor of everybody writing down their stories, if they want to. I'm a populist about writing. Nevertheless, I get almost as annoyed with the people who say, "I'm sure I could churn out a best-seller, if I ever sat down and tried," as I do with the people who sneer, "I'm afraid I don't read popular fiction. I'm only interested in Literature."