Writing. Hard work?

I read this in the Onion AV Club earlier. It's an interview with Trey Parker and he's asked if he enjoys writing:

"No. But I've never enjoyed it. That's what's so funny. People always think that making the show is so much fun. Especially people that don't know what it's like to write, and stuff like that. It's always been totally stressful, totally just wanting to kill yourself every day because you're under so much stress, and feel like there's no way you can pull it off, and all of that stuff. And then when it's over, when the season's done and you're proud of what you did, then you totally enjoy it. And when you're out on the golf course thinking, "Wow, that was a good season," then you really enjoy it. But coming here to work in the morning, I f**king hate it, and I always have. [Laugh.] Any job is a job. If you have to be doing something, then you're probably not enjoying it."

I have to say, I'm in total agreement. Writing is like a visit to the gym for me. I hate to do it but I love having done it. I know from previous threads that others feel very differently about this. Thought this would be a good place to air your views.

I enjoy writing and the problem solving of it etc. That is of course, at the moment. If it became a full time occupation, then I imagine the process would start to grate.

It's hard work, but I look forward to it.

Its amazing when you come up with something you think is brilliant. Those are great moments and keep me coming back to it. Yes, you get those dead days where you're about as funny as a pavement swiped with shit, but that's part of the process.

It depends. Obviously if it's going well I love it, but when it's hard to force out it's not as much fun (which is when you should take a break). But when I'm not doing it I daydream about it and wish I were doing it. It's one of the most exciting things in the world.

Quote: zooo @ March 19, 2008, 6:08 PM

It depends. Obviously if it's going well I love it, but when it's hard to force out it's not as much fun (which is when you should take a break). But when I'm not doing it I daydream about it and wish I were doing it. It's one of the most exciting things in the world.

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It sounds like you're talking about taking a shit?

Only in your bizarre mind, nuts!
(Is pooing exciting?)

Quote: zooo @ March 19, 2008, 6:24 PM

Is pooing exciting?

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You won't know until you get a glass coffee table.

Oh lordy...

Quote: SlagA @ March 19, 2008, 7:04 PM

You won't know until you get a glass coffee table.

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Dude! i aint having tea in your place again!

As for writing I find it hard work. Mostly disciplining myself and not running off on 9 page rambles that are completely unusable and trying to keep the plot ticking over lol Its all difficult but then if it were easy anyone would do it right?

It is so hard to get going at times, but if I see a top comedy, afterwards I can't wait to get back typing again.

Plotting is arduous, dialogue can be flat, but stumbling on things that could connect is brilliant. And it is so satisfying having written something and put it away, to read it again weeks later and chuckle like you're reading someone else's work. I also love the layering of characters. If you hang onto them and go back at a later date, you can add things that just make the character so much more rounded.

The thing about writing is to stop every so often to take a good look at what you've got.

I've just been looking through some old sketches - I was going to take some along when I see Karen Taylor next week just in case!

There are some good things there - surprisingly - but could always do with some polishing up.

Quote: David Bussell @ March 19, 2008, 12:35 PM

I read this in the Onion AV Club earlier. It's an interview with Trey Parker and he's asked if he enjoys writing:

"No. But I've never enjoyed it. That's what's so funny. People always think that making the show is so much fun. Especially people that don't know what it's like to write, and stuff like that. It's always been totally stressful, totally just wanting to kill yourself every day because you're under so much stress, and feel like there's no way you can pull it off, and all of that stuff. And then when it's over, when the season's done and you're proud of what you did, then you totally enjoy it. And when you're out on the golf course thinking, "Wow, that was a good season," then you really enjoy it. But coming here to work in the morning, I f**king hate it, and I always have. [Laugh.] Any job is a job. If you have to be doing something, then you're probably not enjoying it."

I have to say, I'm in total agreement. Writing is like a visit to the gym for me. I hate to do it but I love having done it. I know from previous threads that others feel very differently about this. Thought this would be a good place to air your views.

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Quite weirdly, Alan Simpson has just said almost exactly the same in the Beeb4 interview with Mark Lawson. He didn't enjoy the writing part of it at all.

I thought of this thread too when he said that.

There's nothing like the feeling you get, when you come up with something really funny/clever.