What do you think is the most important quality a writer/author should possess?

What do you think is the most important quality a writer/author should possess? This is a question I put to a other writers and authors. Their response were as varied as their writing.

Dogged persistence. Rebecca Shelly 

Definitely going to agree on the dogged persistence. The ability or the commitment and drive to write regularly. You cannot be a writer unless you write. Tiffany Demings  

Along with what everyone else has said, tenacity. Rachel Hart 

Endurance. You won't get anything done until you sit and write, and write, and write. Chem Flitton

There are some days I really would like to curl up and read a book and eat some chocolate. And there are days that the sink full of dishes stink and the floor is sticky and I can't leave them. I can't. But on all days, I need to sit and write.
Persistence has a couple of meanings: persisting, especially in spite of opposition, obstacles, and discouragement; lasting or enduring tenaciously.
In spite of opposition (phones ringing), obstacles (messy house) and discouragement (another reject letter), we writers can endure. We can get our daily writing in, even if it's fifteen minutes.


Being teachable. That includes a lot of stuff, including being able to take constructive criticism. Donna K. Weaver

A commitment to learn the craft of writing. Janette Rallison

I think a writer needs an understanding of human nature in order to write stories that resonate. Emotion is why people read a book, and why, after we finish a good book—one that resonates, it stays with us. Julie Daines

This week is a big writer's conference in Utah: LDStorymakers. It's an amazing conference with too many classes to choose from, hordes of writers, awesome agents and camaraderie. Let's face, writing is a solitary job and we need to be able to get away from the couch/desk/library where we work and refill our creativity well. Conferences are a great place to work and socialize.Everyone writer, no matter if they are published or just starting, can learn the skills needed to write a book or poem or short story. We learn from each other, presenters and life. 

Thick skin. Rhonda Hinrichsen

I think authors also need to have integrity, and the ability to continue working through heartbreak and disappointment of all kinds. Nicole Giles

Ironically, the first word I though to of was compassion. Probably for ourselves, others, our characters. Lisa Swinton

The ability to never give up -- from learning to writing to just sticking with it. Amy White

 I would say passion and comitment. A writer has to love what they are doing and have the dedication and belief in the story to see it through. Even if they just write for themselves. Creativity can be important too. Ashlee Madson

Passion, commitment and thick skin. And the compassion to give other writers the encouragement we all need during our hard times. A hard critique, a bad review or a rejection all hurt. We all know what the lows feel like. We can commiserate. 

What about the highs? I love when my writerly friends get an agent or a published book or just finish the dang thing. Those are times we need each other too, I think. It's okay to reveal in the glory of accomplishing our goals. We work hard! We should get a bit of confetti thrown for us. 

And lastly...this writer had an amazing epiphany:

A REAL WRITER MUST HAVE:
Self-motivation to write write write practice practice learn learn rewrite rewrite rewrite rewrite rewrite. Print. Repeat.
Creativity to do it all in a new way.
Humility to accept and implement advice.
Wisdom to know when to listen to advice and when to trust your instincts.
Thick skin to accept failure. (It's not you, it's what needs to be fixed.)
Stupid, unrelenting, blind, passionate, dogged determination to keep getting your stuff out there. (Like with spaghetti: keep throwing 'til it sticks.)

May the SCHWiTS be with you. Always. Tabitha Thompson

(Sorry about the weird coloring of the post! I couldn't get it fixed.)