Is Writing a Skill or An Art

Answer I

The thing to remember is that writing can fulfill several functions:

> Transmitting factual information or giving an explanation
> Teaching a skill or procedure
> Persuasion - trying to convince someone of an intellectual or policy position
> Sharing an idea or principle
> Telling a story

Writing takes many forms, including poetry, essays, academic writing for journals, journalism, novels, non-fiction, screen writing, blogging, marketing/advertising copy, narration for video or elearning, technical writing (user manuals, help files, faqs, how to).

For all of these, both artistry and technical skill are required, with different mixes depending on the particular form. 

Without the artistry, the writing will be bland and lifeless. 

Without the technical skill, it looks sloppy and unrefined.

Answer II

Writing is a skill. Period. 

Writing is also a method of expression. Similar methods may be music, paintings, dance, etc. But writing is a sophisticated form of expression, developed way much later than the other forms of expression. 

This method is not an art form, but a skill. Like hunting, like cooking, like coding. 

Now, most possibly, since you have posed this question, I presume you are either a writer or budding to be one. If so, your question stems from an urge to understand how much of writing is under your conscious control. If its an art, well there is not much you can do about it. If its a skill however, it looses its romantic sheen. To master it then you have to spend long, at least appreciable amount of time with it. That sounds tedious and scary. It would be better to presume writing is an art. May be you should just wait for your inspiration to reach a threshold from where the writing will just flow on its own. 

I have bad news! That is delusional thinking. Warm up to the idea that writing is nothing but a skill. And to master it, you must work with it, regularly, diligently, dedicatedly. 

What is an art then? An art is an exceptional piece of expression. A story. A poem. A sculpture. A movie. Some of these may transcend to become works of art. But you need skill to get there.

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