--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like most art forms, writing is part…" description: "\"Like most art forms, writing is part instinct and part craft. The craft part is the part that can be taught, and that can make a crucial difference to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/625/matt-haig-1036_art_like-most-art-forms-writing-is-part-inst_2050189.jpg" --- # Like most art forms, writing is part instinct and part… ![“Like most art forms, writing is part instinct and part craft. The craft part is the part that can be taught, and that can make a crucial difference to lots of writers.” quote by Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/625/matt-haig-1036_art_like-most-art-forms-writing-is-part-inst_2050189.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/625/matt-haig-1036_art_like-most-art-forms-writing-is-part-inst_2050189.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/625/matt-haig-1036_art_like-most-art-forms-writing-is-part-inst_2050189.jpg) > “Like most art forms, writing is part instinct and part craft. The craft part is the part that can be taught, and that can make a crucial difference to lots of writers.” [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing blends innate talent with learned technique; teaching craft improves skill and outcomes. **In simple terms:** Writing is instinct plus skill. Key Takeaway Develop craft to enhance writing. Themes creativity skill development education Mood encouraging practical Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - writing workshops - self‑study - mentor feedback Key Concepts learning theory pedagogy Questions to Reflect On - What craft skill could you improve? - How does practice shape your voice? A Different Perspective Talent alone may not sustain progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-form/) [Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craft/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Art can't be taught; passion can't be taught; discipline can't be taught; but craft can be taught. And writing is both an art and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/art-can-t-be-taught-passion-can-t-be-taught-discipline-can-t-be/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [Some of our best writers are self taught. Screenwriting is a combo of craft and art. The craft part can be taught, about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/some-of-our-best-writers-are-self-taught-screenwriting-is-a-combo-of/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [I don't have much interest in writing if there are not opportunities to crack open the inherited forms. The writing I love to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lidia-yuknavitch/i-don-t-have-much-interest-in-writing-if-there-are-not-opportunities/) [Lidia Yuknavitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lidia-yuknavitch/) > [I write a lot from instinct. But as you're writing out of instinct, once you reach a certain level as a songwriter, the craft…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-ian/i-write-a-lot-from-instinct-but-as-you-re-writing-out-of-instinct/) [Janis Ian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-ian/) > [There are many forms of writing that are common, but also very formulaic, such as annual reports or economic studies. In those areas, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-m-parker/there-are-many-forms-of-writing-that-are-common-but-also-very/) Philip M. Parker > [I dunno, when I started writing really I was like, filling out applications and stuff real early. Last name first, first name last, sex...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-dunno-when-i-started-writing-really-i-was-like-filling-out/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I use three main tools in writing: instinct, hard work and dumb luck. Dumb luck is missing a train and, while you wait for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-massengill/i-use-three-main-tools-in-writing-instinct-hard-work-and-dumb-luck/) [David Massengill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-massengill/) > [I think so much of writing is an instinct, or a feel for a scene, or a feel for a character. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-meriwether/i-think-so-much-of-writing-is-an-instinct-or-a-feel-for-a-scene-or-a/) [Elizabeth Meriwether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-meriwether/) > [I probably learned most of my craft from singing to the radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-b-schmit/i-probably-learned-most-of-my-craft-from-singing-to-the-radio/) [Timothy B. Schmit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-b-schmit/) > [I have a lot of fun working and training and learning and trying to figure out the different aspects of my craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/i-have-a-lot-of-fun-working-and-training-and-learning-and-trying-to/) [Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/) > [“There is something deeply satisfying in shaping something with your hands. Proper artificing is like a song made solid. It is an act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/there-is-something-deeply-satisfying-in-shaping-something-with-your/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [All the craft skills that I have, I feel like I developed and honed in drama school. It's the most important thing for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/all-the-craft-skills-that-i-have-i-feel-like-i-developed-and-honed-in/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [What I didn't know that by sticking to craft we would blow open some doors that I never saw opened before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lipton/what-i-didn-t-know-that-by-sticking-to-craft-we-would-blow-open-some/) [James Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lipton/) > [Learn your craft. You want to be a doctor or a teacher - it's very important to learn your craft and indulge in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-horry/learn-your-craft-you-want-to-be-a-doctor-or-a-teacher-it-s-very/) [Robert Horry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-horry/) > [As I progressed in the firm, I learnt the craft, and as I learnt my craft, my partners and the firm threw up different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punit-renjen/as-i-progressed-in-the-firm-i-learnt-the-craft-and-as-i-learnt-my/) [Punit Renjen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punit-renjen/) ## More by Matt Haig > [“Maybe that is what growing up was all about. It was about changing your mind. Opening it right up. Admitting to yourself that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/maybe-that-is-what-growing-up-was-all-about-it-was-about-changing/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [“It felt civilised and modern. It felt refined and tantalising, all at once, like a polite collective pre-orgasm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/it-felt-civilised-and-modern-it-felt-refined-and-tantalising-all-at/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [If you can't give children optimism, then what are you doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/if-you-can-t-give-children-optimism-then-what-are-you-doing/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [“He just wanted to live inside a moment of that life with her forever, to pluck it like a flower and press it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/he-just-wanted-to-live-inside-a-moment-of-that-life-with-her-forever/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [British culture is very cynical sometimes of overt displays of sentimentality, and I think that becomes almost a suspicion of emotion, or a suspicion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/british-culture-is-very-cynical-sometimes-of-overt-displays-of/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [“That is one of the patterns: when nothing is happening, nothing continues to happen, but after a while the lull becomes too much and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/that-is-one-of-the-patterns-when-nothing-is-happening-nothing/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [The single biggest act of bravery or madness anyone can do is the act of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/the-single-biggest-act-of-bravery-or-madness-anyone-can-do-is-the-act/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [For me, as a writer, I desperately want to be read. 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I like to run, but only short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/i-m-a-firm-believer-in-the-connection-between-the-body-and-the-mind/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [Look at the sky; remind yourself of the cosmos. Seek vastness at every opportunity in order to see the smallness of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/look-at-the-sky-remind-yourself-of-the-cosmos-seek-vastness-at-every/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [A book is a map. There will be times in your life when you will feel lost and confused. 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You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. 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