Writing: Easy or Not? (Comic/Novel)

[TheXtraordinaryX]

As the title says, writing. No comparisons to any other craft. Just writing.

The process as a whole: the idea, the development. changes, and the neat bow in the end.

Is it easy or not?

[vfinnigan]

No, it isn't, especially if the muse has left you in the dirt and you don't know where to go next.

Also, research, especially for us nonfiction writers, is the hardest part of writing. Thankfully, I happen to think it's fun.

[Penni]

In terms of novels there is a lot that goes into it. And not just the concept for your story. Yes, you have to look at the plot, world building, characters, but you also have to pay attention to how you write the story. That includes pacing, tone, including necessarily but important information (with out just dumping a bunch of things), research, etc.

It also depends on what kind of writer you are. Some write without a structured plan while others are meticulous with their planning. I tend to be in the middle.

When you look at all the components that go into a story and writing, it is a challenge. And like anything else, some will pick it up faster than others, but it will always require practice.

[JRHoch]

Writing is pretty easy for about one hour a day. After that, it's hard.

[SleepingPoppy]

It's a craft that takes real skill, creativity, and discipline to be effective at. Not easier than any other skill one studies and hones. That as with all things, some will take to it more naturally than others. But good writing deserves respect and appreciation.

This all said as an avid reader. I love storytelling more than just about anything else, and what I love about comics is the marriage of art and writing to tell a story. I think "artist" and "writer" are useful distinctions in conversation, but writers are artists in equal respect.

[TheXtraordinaryX]

No comparisons please. Writing only.

[SleepingPoppy]

I don't actually compare writing to visual art in my statement. I was just expanding in what I love about writing. but I apologize if it didn't come across as relevant.

[elleswoop]

I think coming up with ideas is easy? But actually going through and figuring out a plot/storyline to go with that idea is where I find trouble. That's where pieces of the story that you thought were good turn out to be plot holes, or motivation runs out. Big props to people who can get through that, though!

[WriterLinXiaolong]

It is not as easy as it seems. To me, research is the hardest part.

[TheXtraordinaryX]

In my mind, the idea is something that should be balanced between something that comes to you and something you search for. The overall feeling of a story is something i have momentarily, i try to write what i had, and then both look and wait for inspiration that fuels that feeling again.

The changes create a big obstacle since i try to always do something different than most stories, So accepting change is something i have to consider in every sentence. A beginning is hard to make, the middle is relatively simpler, but the ending all depends on what you have so far, so whether or not it's tricky depends on how deep a hole i put myself in.

The ending is something i believe everyone should consider from the beginning, middle and end. The only thing i set in stone is the theme or message i'm trying to convey with my writing, so essentially my ending is that message no matter what i've written.

This ain't easy.

[Prometheus]

I don’t believe anything worth doing will be easy. So I don’t think writing is easy, especially if you put all your effort and creativity into it.

I guess you could look at it this way:

Is writing easy? Yes.
Is skillful, creative writing easy? No.

[spadesart]

i can spit out the general direction of a story easily, but words that read well? no

[rmdooley]

[Freemints30]

with dialogue most of the times it's pretty easy for 3 comic pages and after that then I pretty much stop for the day. But there are times where I have no clue what to write next.

Really the hardest part for me is outlining what happens next as I get lost and have no idea how to get from point A to point B for weeks with multiple rewrites. After that then its pretty easy with some bumps on the way on how to say what.

[spadedigsbutts]

I have a very easy time planning and writing scripts and story, but my main problem is probably having enough concentration to like, actually sit down and do it. When I do, I get hours of work done and can finish a lot, but it happens so seldom that....not much actually gets done

[Sky-Chau]

I find writing is easier in comics because if you know your story beats you can draw first and add dialogue later. Also 90% of what kills me as a writer is descriptions which I barely need in the visual medium that is comics.

[ratscout]

I find writing to be very easy to get down onto a page, it's the editing and making it good that's difficult. Like, I spend way too much darned time on editing. I wish I could feel content with only editing a chapter once and throwing it up, but I think I'm insane shrugs. I don't know, I feel like writing is also a constant struggle of just pure will. I mean, most of us don't have very big audiences, and so you pretty much have to be writing the story for your own pleasure due to your own determination.

I think it also depends on the length of the story. I said it before and I'll say it again; short stories are wonderful because they don't take up too much of your time or energy and you generally don't care as much if no one reads it or if it's any good. It's also easier to keep the story clean and tightly knit when it's shorter.

When things are long-form, it's far worse. I still love writing those types of stories, but man, long-form is truly a test of your will and determination as an author, haha. It is so hard to keep things consistent, entertaining, clean, and tightly knit. Especially when you have to start asking yourself things like, "Okay, do I really need this character or am I just adding characters to the story because I'm getting bored with it?" XD.

So, I dunno. It's easy and it's not easy I guess.