E163. A New Theory of Talent

E163. A New Theory of Talent

From Stepping Off Now: Support for Neurodivergent Creatives by Kendra Patterson

February 21, 2025 · 29 min

About this episode

In this episode, Kendra Patterson explores the idea that talent may not be as crucial to artistic success as consistent effort over time.

I've long thought that talent is the least important ingredient in artistic success (however you define that). The further I get in my writing career, the less it seems to matter whether I have any "natural" talent. What matters is consistent and sustained effort over time. In this episode I contemplate whether talent is what we think it is, and provide an alternative framework for conceptualizing it that can help free us from the pressure of not feeling talented enough.

People in this episode

Host: Kendra Patterson

Topics covered

  • talent
  • artistic success
  • consistent effort
  • neurodivergence
  • creative process

Keywords

  • talent
  • artistic success
  • neurodivergent
  • creativity
  • effort
  • framework
  • pressure

More episodes of Stepping Off Now: Support for Neurodivergent Creatives

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Stepping Off Now: Support for Neurodivergent Creatives podcast page.