Definition: If two things are two sides of the same coin, they are very closely related although they seem different.
There are so many subjects in all of our lives that the above idiom could refer to; whether in politics, religion, or even the arts, there are issues that many times seem to be polar opposites, but in fact are really just "two sides of the same coin." (While we're in a presidential election year that would be a great topic for this discussion. However, this is a blog that focuses on writing related issues, so don't despair!)
The subjects of craft and creativity as they apply to writing could definitely be referred to as "two sides of the same coin."
Over the years I've noticed that most writers seem to have either craft or creativity as their strength and so work hard to include the other element in their manuscript. For me, I definitely come at my writing from a creative place; I'm constantly working at improving my craft.
Why do I bring this up?
Because as humans we tend to hold onto our strengths, it's only natural. However, it's imperative that we understand that the thing that is our weakness must be developed; it may well be the key that opens the door to our future. Nearly every novel that I have ever read, and truly enjoyed, has been written by an author who has a balance of craft and creativity in her writing. There is a sense of wholeness and complexity to a story that was written by a veteran author.
The other benefit from working on our weakness (rather that sticking only to our strength) is that we're always reminded of how much more we need to improve. It keeps us humble; we're always learning.
Hmmm...today is Tax Day. I'm not sure if there are "two sides of the same coin" or not when it comes to paying taxes! Probably not.
