Growth v. fixed mindsets

Is writing talent natural and innate? Or can it be developed through effort and practice? Your answer may reveal whether you have a 'fixed mindset' or a 'growth mindset'.

Are authors born or made? Is talent innate, or can you become a successful writer through effort, practice and persistence? Your answer may give a clue as to whether you have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset.

Think about your favourite author for a moment. Perhaps they’re a successful household name. A bestseller, whose books get widespread critical acclaim. They win prizes, sell millions of copies – and write so many books!

Now think about how they got there. Do you imagine their achievements were all down to their natural talent and ability? Or did they have to work hard to get there, with a lot of grit, determination, practice, effort – and maybe failures – along the way? In short, are authors born or made? 

This variation on the old nature / nurture debate is something that was the major preoccupation for world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, author of the million-copy bestseller Mindset: Changing the way you think to fulfil your potential. Her breakthrough was to make this distinction between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. 

What are mindsets?

A mindset is simply an attitude, a viewpoint, a way of thinking about yourself and the world. 

If you think authors come ready-made with innate, natural talent, that suggests you have a fixed mindset. If you think they’re created in the furnaces of hard work, practice, effort and learning, you probably have a growth mindset. The type of mindset you have has implications for how you approach your own writing - and career. It plays a major role in your motivation, resilience and success.

If you have a fixed mindset, you believe that personal qualities and abilities, including writing talent are, well, fixed. There’s nothing you can do to change or improve them. However, if you have a growth mindset, you believe that skills and abilities can be developed through effort and practice. They can change, develop and grow over time.

What is a fixed mindset?

Has anyone ever said to you “You’re a natural”, or “You’re gifted”? Or “You’re no good at that” or “Writing isn't your strength”? Either way, these comments aren’t very helpful – because they can contribute to a view of yourself as fixed and unchangeable.

If you’re not good at something - and you have a fixed mindset - you typically think you’ll never be good at it. You believe writing talent is something you’re just born with. You either have it or you don’t, and you can’t develop it. You see intelligence, abilities, talents and skills as innate, fixed and unchanging. 

This can make learning, developing and improving seem pointless – even impossible. Why take a writing course if you think learning and growth is impossible? If you have a fixed mindset, you see success as proof of your natural abilities; and failure as confirmation of your shortcomings. You may not stretch or challenge yourself, but choose short-term strategies that make you look good now, at the expense of future growth. You might even see effort as evidence of a lack of talent. And, in the face of a setback, you might just give up, or blame others. 

This is why I think it’s rather unhelpful when people talk about how talented an author is - especially if you’re an aspiring author. You might think: “It’s easy for them: they’re naturally gifted.” Or “I just don’t have the talent to become an author.” This sort of negative self-talk is particularly likely if you were given these messages as a child, or if you’re surrounded by unsupportive people.

Do you do any of the following? If so, you might have a fixed mindset:

• Avoid challenges (writing a book is a big challenge!)

• Give up easily, especially when confronted by obstacles 

• See effort as pointless, and a sign of lack of ability

• Ignore or dismiss criticism, such as feedback from editors or beta readers

• Feel threatened or disheartened by the success of other authors 

• Believe you know everything already.

If you have a fixed mindset you tend to assume that some people are just good (or bad) at things - including writing. You don’t believe that trial and error, practice, hard work, failure and strategy are important factors in developing your skills, talent and writing career. 

What is a growth mindset?

By contrast, if you have a growth mindset, you believe that talent is something you can increase and develop. You believe that success comes from ongoing personal development, and your writing skills and abilities can grow through effort, learning and practice. Success and failure aren’t just hardwired into your genes. You have control over your own destiny.

If you have a growth mindset, you’re more likely to focus on the process of writing rather than the end result, success and ‘winning’. Dweck reminds us that there was a saying in the 1960s that went: “Becoming is better than being.” She says that, if you have a fixed mindset, you don’t allow yourself the luxury of becoming. You already have to be. 

But if you have a growth mindset, and you face a setback, criticism or failure, you don’t think it’s because you lack natural ability and give up. You try again, practise harder or try a new approach. You learn and develop. You know that the journey is more important than the destination. 

If you do any of the following, it’s likely you have a growth mindset:

• Embrace challenges – such as writing a book!

• Keep going – despite setbacks and failures

• See effort as the path to mastery 

• Keen to learn and develop your craft

• Accept and learn from constructive criticism, such as reviews

• Inspired and motivated by the success of others – they shine a light on a path you can follow. 

A growth mindset isn’t the same as a positive mindset. And it’s not the same as an ‘abundance’ mindset. (We may look at both those concepts another time.) Nor is it all about working harder. It’s also about working smarter – developing new strategies and approaches in the face of setbacks.

Importantly, it’s about your attitude to development and failure. You bounce back, pick yourself up and try again. A growth mindset embraces challenges and views failure not as evidence of innate limitations, but as a springboard for growth.

Are mindsets fixed? Or can I develop a growth mindset?

Having read this, which mindset do you think you have? According to Dweck, if you have a growth mindset, you’re more likely to develop a high level of talent, and do better in life. For authors, this means you’re more likely to have a successful writing career. 

But don’t worry if you think you have a fixed mindset. Just as you can change your mind, you can change your mindset. Mindsets are simply beliefs about yourself. So you can challenge yourself to think differently - and challenge your assumptions about yourself. 

The good news is that a fixed mindset isn’t fixed - and a growth mindset is something you can grow into. We’ll look at some practical ways you can shift your mindset next time. Meanwhile, enjoy the process - and allow yourself the luxury of becoming.