We never stop learning.
That seems to be one of the basic tenets of being human (for most of us hopefully!), but when it comes to writing and being a writer, it’s a truism.
For something that seems so self-evident, I have and continue (amazingly enough) to come across writers who think they’ve already learned what they need to know about writing. 
For some of them, it means they’ve taken a couple of courses or read a handful of books, and that there is nothing more to be gained by reading more books or taking more courses or brainstorming/networking with other authors on an ongoing basis. For others, it means they’ve already had a few books published – proof, in their minds, that they obviously know what the heck they’re doing.
It actually frightens me a bit that there are writers and published authors out there like that. It frightens me not only because I think their future relationship with the written word will be short, but it frightens me about the future of novels if we, as writers, aren’t constantly pushing ourselves and each other to be better.
Imagine if your physician thought he/she didn’t need to learn anything more after medical school and residency. Would you want a doctor like that? One who was a good doctor in 1978 but not so much anymore? I doubt it.
Athletes know the value of working on their skill set. Professional hockey players, for instance, still work regularly on the fundamentals of skating, passing, shooting – the very same things ten-year-olds work on.
Writing should be treated no differently. It’s not officially a profession, but it doesn’t mean we can’t behave as though it is. And that means continually learning our craft, not only for our sake, but our readers.
Whenever I read a book on the craft of writing, I always learn something new. And even if it’s just rehashing something I already knew, it reminds me to incorporate it into my writing, to sharpen my skills and stay focused. Same thing when I go to writing conferences or seminars. What other writers say reinforces concepts in my own mind and gives me the courage and permission to think about my writing in a different and fresher way.
I belong to a group of fiction writers (ASCRIBE) who meet monthly. Each month we tackle a different topic, which ranges from plot construction to writing sex scenes to branding/networking. We brainstorm, we share, we learn from each other, and sometimes from guest speakers too. It’s a safe, encouraging environment in which to say, hey, I don’t know everything there is to know about writing, but I’m eager and humble enough to want to learn.
Writers, push yourself to be better, because you can always BE better than you are now. And it won’t happen through osmosis or natural evolution (or nocturnal visits by the Writing Gods). Work at it, learn from others, and don’t be afraid to share your own knowledge gained by triumphs and mistakes.
There is no finish line when it comes to writing. Only the journey!
