If you find writing easy ...

[SamScribble]

I came across this the other day: If you find writing easy, you’re doing it wrong.

Discuss.

 

[Handley_Page]

Well, that's something of a relief.
I have directories full of half-written stories.

 

[KindofHere]

.............

 

[sr71plt]

Different effect for different folks. I find driving a nail or answering a telephone hard--not writing.

 

[Hypoxia]

Was a link removed? I find nothing to go anywhere.

 

[oggbashan]

I came across this the other day: If you find writing easy, you’re doing it wrong.

Discuss.

It depends on the writer's training and experience. If the writer has been writing professionally for many decades writng can be easy to do.

If the quote had read "If you find writing (what other people think are) good stories easy, you're doing it right." that might be better.

Writing can be easy; editing makes a significant difference. Producing a good story is not just about writing. It includes plot, characterisation, development.

I find writing easy. NaNoWriMo is not really a challenge for me because I could produce 50,000 words in a month, any month or every month. But producing stories that I think are worth posting? That is much harder than writing thousands of words.

For 2003 (I had completed a NaNoWriMo challenge before I joined Literotica) I decided that I would make NaNoWriMo interesting for me. My target was to write the 50,000 words, edit it, and have the whole posted on Literotica, allowing for posting delays, by the end of the NaNoWriMo month.

I succeeded. The result is my 12-chapter Flawed Red Silk. It remains as I posted it. The writing was easy; the plotting, development and denoument weren't; the editing was hard at such a speed. I knew I could write the quantity during the month. I didn't know if I could produce a reasonable quality of story-writing in the time.

So - my view is: Writing can be easy; story writing is more than the writing.

 

[latecomer91364]

For me, there are certainly echelons:

Commercial fiction or adaptation writing (screenplays, non-erotic), while not necessarily difficult, commands more of my care: keeping it economical/concise; taking care that the plot logically services the story; that thematic elements are well supported; that characters develop truthfully and logically, etc. - and the ever important 'will the reader be excited to turn every page?'.

It is occasionally 'easy', but I am always suspicious if the pages flow out too fast: Am I surrenduring to what feels like a natural flow, but is really unnecessary 'word masturbation' (in screenwriting, it's called 'shoe leather': basically non-essential movement that promotes neither plot/story nor character development). I always re-read constantly, but especially those sections that felt too easy.

Please don't mistake this as some kind of snobbery: Here, I usually write 'stroke stories', basically an outlet for the dirty bird in me, and I take much less care in the above stated attributes. I figure my reader is jerking off, and want to encourage that action, hopefully bringing it to fruition. I don't care as much about crafting a truly fine piece of fiction, but I do want it to be a comfy, logical read. One or two dimensional characters are sufficient for these stories (for me).

Porn can be easy, true erotica is more difficult but neither compare to the toil and sweat I put into commercially oriented writing - not by a longshot.

 

[PuckIt]

To me, writing has always been easier than not writing.

Reading what I've written on the other hand...

Let's just say if you think what I've posted is bad, you don't want to see the cesspool I call my trash bin.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Starting a story is easy. Finishing it... not so much.

 

[NotWise]

I find writing to be difficult. I thought things might get easier as my experience improved. It has in some ways, but that effect is offset by increasing standards. I might reach a point where I'm not striving for that next, better effect and then the experience will help more. Or maybe not.

 

[sr71plt]

Was a link removed? I find nothing to go anywhere.

I don't think so. The "this" in the OP refers to what comes after the colon.

 

[HandsInTheDark]

I came across this the other day: If you find writing easy, you’re doing it wrong.

Discuss.

False. When I have time to write, it just flows out; and people seem to like it, so I can't think of any reason to think I'm doing it wrongly.

I think your source needs more attention to defining right and wrong in their given context. Or maybe they're just bitter.

 

[Hypoxia]

I don't think so. The "this" in the OP refers to what comes after the colon.

Oh, the part that my sub-functional right eye saw as a blur. Oops. I'm mostly reading the left sides of pages and screens. No joke; reading is difficult now.

I'ii take another look. [/me scrolls up, swivels head] Okay, got it. Is easy writing wrong writing?

My answer: It depends. If a writer is absolutely on top of their material then don't be surprised by facile writing. If a writer finds themself in a maze of possibilities, structuring the tale will be more difficult.

Another dependency: What do we consider 'writing'? Immortal literature, quick strokers and similar formulaic fun, ephemeral notes, researched reporting, PR releases and proclamations, philosophical arguments, user instructions, songs, all put their demands on wordsmiths. Some churn it out, some slog. Whatever.

 

[_Lynn_]

Starting a story is easy. Finishing it... not so much.

I have tons of starts I'll never complete because I tend to get bored easily. Maybe that's why I prefer short stories.

 

[china-doll]

Starting a story is easy. Finishing it... not so much.

Exactly. I couldn't even tell you how many half written stories I have lurking on old computers, thumb drives and now Google Docs.

The flash of inspiration: YES

The follow through: Not so much.

 

[Ferax]

I have half finished stores from when I was 7. Writing has ALWAYS been easy. Writing good, well that's a matter of experience. Finishing stories, as other writers pointed out, that's the trick. What seperates creative people from writers.

Just remember when you pass judgement on writers "doing it wrong" though, writing fiction is ultimately about entertaining. You cannot be wrong if you are entertaining people. You could be better, but not wrong.

 

[latecomer91364]

I also have a good number of stories I've begun. My issue is, when the idea strikes, I write, but as that initial heat wears off and I step back, some things are not as interesting as I imagined they were, and prove unworthy of completion, or another idea comes along that seems to merit my time better. I probably end up completing 3 out of 5 eventually.

It's part of the process: write/toss, write again. Just keep writing.

 

[SamScribble]

Recently, while sorting through a box filled with ‘stuff’ that my late father had hoarded, I came across an essay that I had written when I was in the Third Form.

The given theme was ‘Recollections of Primary School’. I don’t recall writing it; but I do recognise that it is written in my even-then quirky handwriting, and in my style. (As a Third Former, I was already happy to start a sentence with a conjunction; but I baulked at ending a sentence with a preposition. And, wherever possible, I chose the short word in preference to the longer alternative.)

At the foot of the last page, the English master had written: ‘Very good; technically excellent; but a bit harsh in its conclusion.’ (I don’t think that Mr O’Connor took kindly to my criticism of pedagogy.)

For almost 70 years, I think that I have usually found writing reasonably easy. But not always. If I know my subject, my pen usually drives itself. I just hang on for the ride. But if I am not sure what I want to say, writing can become rather challenging.

So … having given it some thought, I am inclined to say: If you find writing easy, you’re probably doing it right – not wrong. And if you find it hard, you probably haven’t got a grip on what you are writing about.

That’s my thought anyway.

 

[ishtat]

George Simenon 1903 -1989, the Belgian French writer was arguably the fastest and most prolific novelist authoring over 500 novels including over 350 in a period of little more than 10 years in the 1920's/1930's. He reckoned to average 11 to 12 days to write and edit a 200 page novel and as he sold over 700 million books he was pretty good at it.

His social and traveling life was pretty busy too; two or three wives and numerous lovers did not seem to impede his output.

However, in terms of words produced, Simenon is well behind the Englishman Frank Richards who largely wrote for magazines. I don't know much about him though I suspect that Og might.

 

[oggbashan]

...

However, in terms of words produced, Simenon is well behind the Englishman Frank Richards who largely wrote for magazines. I don't know much about him though I suspect that Og might.

Google is your friend:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Hamilton_(writer)

Charles Hamilton aka Frank Richards aka ...

 

[Handley_Page]

Starting a story is easy. Finishing it... not so much.

Amen.

Google is your friend:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Hamilton_(writer)

Charles Hamilton aka Frank Richards aka ...

"I say, you fellows, . . ." The Owl of the Remove himself.

 

[Hypoxia]

However, in terms of words produced, Simenon is well behind the Englishman Frank Richards who largely wrote for magazines.

How many of their words were and are worth reading?

 

[oggbashan]

How many of their words were and are worth reading?

Frank Richards (actually Charles Hamilton) wrote stories that are still part of the UK's popular culture. Billy Bunter keeps reappearing in various forms.

 

[sr71plt]

George Simenon 1903 -1989, the Belgian French writer was arguably the fastest and most prolific novelist authoring over 500 novels including over 350 in a period of little more than 10 years in the 1920's/1930's. He reckoned to average 11 to 12 days to write and edit a 200 page novel and as he sold over 700 million books he was pretty good at it.

His social and traveling life was pretty busy too; two or three wives and numerous lovers did not seem to impede his output.

However, in terms of words produced, Simenon is well behind the Englishman Frank Richards who largely wrote for magazines. I don't know much about him though I suspect that Og might.

Isaac Asimov might have given him a run for his money. In the current era, Alexander McCall Smith might be doing that as well. In the case of these two, they pursued higher-level academic professions beyond their fiction writing at the same time.

 

[sr71plt]

PILO0T is our colon expert. Let him sniff yours and he'll predict your fortune.

Oh, your Tampa trailer hasn't caved in on you in the rising water in the trailer park? Too bad.