I'd posit that you were not "right all along." That you've been learning all along, whether you think your original was organically correct or not. What is organic is the learning process – whether self-learning (where you don't credit lessons you really picked up from elsewhere) or reading (books, articles, posts, etc.) lessons on how to develop and refine your craftsmanship.

I think the only difference you've discovered is that when you intentionally learned, you just started thinking about it too hard. Ultimately, these new lessons always take over the way you write anyhow. Once learned, they cannot be unlearned. You've assimilated them enough that you no longer overthink them.

So, you've benefitted from them anyhow – whether you'd like to think you've happily gone back to your old ways or not (but the real answer is "not").

The slowest and least efficient way to learn how to write professionally is to ignore studying the craft and benefitting from the experiences of others. The second least efficient way is to fail at seeking continuous feedback on your work from other writers.

Talent, while wonderful and helpful, doesn't matter, if you don't learn the craft. You may have wonderful prose, but stories that bore. You may have wonderful stories, that nobody can get into and read. But if you want to be professional and successful, ultimately you need to learn the craft. Slower and inefficiently or faster and effectively is up to you.

That’s the whole “get to” vs. “have to” thing. Less fun when it feels like an obligation!

Live in the comments, Johnny. I built 30,000 monthly visitors for my blog by living in the comments sections. That's where the relationships are made, and where you will find your advocates.

It's where you make new friends.

Many say leaving comments are a waste of time.

But that's what unpopular people always say.

(grin)

We're happy to have you here! Lol

LOL. Comments are a great thing, as I try to build exposure for my new blog (with limited success so far)!

Read it, enjoyed the views -- left you a flippin' novel length reply.

I'd apologize, but it's a genetic condition.

Love that! Thanks for the share, Johnny!

You know ... it's probably easier to send you to this post on my website and the sea of responding comments for the full answer: https://www.johnnybtruant.com/p/roundtable-will-books-and-art-survive

Enjoy the rabbit hole!

And that is where the true art comes in. It isn't just breaking rules because they are inconvenient or not understood. It is breaking them with intention and purpose to enhance the overall experience for our readers. There's a level of empathy and connection there that I doubt can be programmed or even learned.