Writers are Artist?

[Pub Wench]

Is a writer an artist? Is an artist a writer?    Are they the same animal just using different mediums? 

[sonyameglaurel]

wanna hear someone tell me their thoughts on this....

[lceel]

As writers, our canvas is the mind of the reader; our camera, the eye of the beholder.   Artists?  You betcha.

[Pub Wench]

 I think that's really eloquent Lou.. .  The creative or conceptualizing  process is the same. That's easy enough to understand. But I think the words and sturcture of a story or poem is the actual medium -(paint and canvas if you will.)  And just like our art, the more comfortable and skilled you get with that  medium as a writer-the more excellence arrives in the finished product.  Possibilities?

[rustybucket]

Another similarity are the rules.  In visual arts there are rules (although we kinda hate to think we follow them) of composition, color, and so on.  There are rules in creating with words too.

Although, we all know that sometimes breaking them can be quite provocative. 

I appreciate Lou's comments.  I really would like to know how other writer's would express themselves on  this topic.

[Pub Wench]

You're absolutely right. There are rules that have to be adhered to - to make a piece and the reader follow us and understand. 'Get what the heck we're talking about or doing.' That goes for both art and literature.  And, working within those parameters and doing something different or unique is the goal of both writer and artist also. 

I truly think artists and writers are the same creature at our core and that's why we tend to flow over into each other's arenas so easily.

[artisticrhythms]

Rules?..What rules?      I agree that it is in the choice and arrangement of words on paper and the resulting affect it has on the reader that then becomes a work of art.

But what do you think sets creative writing apart from technical writing? Isn't the intent of either writer to make the reader feel and/or think, etc.?

[Pub Wench]

With 'rules' I think(?) what I meant was basic knowledge of correct grammatical structure to be able to write in coherent method.  (I think we said the same thing, huh- Yours just had more 'feeling' to it. lol)

As far as what set them apart:  I don't think 'most' technical writing has the same requirement as creative. (and note I emphasize most.)To frequently technical writing can just be a spewing of facts and figures with little intention of asking the reader to agree, feel, or think anything.  Just a- 'This is the information. Do with it what you want.'  LOL    I also think that's why few of us really like technical writing. It's like a necessary evil.

In creative writing our goal is to really to connect with our reader and entertain.  We want them to feel and respond to the story. And of course that is the number one goal of every artist also.

[rustybucket]

Tech stuff aside...there are "rules  to engage the eye in a painting and direct it to where we want it to go or not to go (for example off the edge of the canvas).  Similar in writing to engage the emotions of the reader and to draw them where we need them to go requires the following of certain "rules".  Who cares if the hero dies if we didn't understand what made him the hero.

The preference of the Tech or Creative is in the motivation of the reader.  In writing both still require a building of information, one paints lovely pictures with words and the other draws an illustration.

[artisticrhythms]

Yes, you guys are, of course, right - there have to be rules, but it sure would be nice/interesting in certain situations, just with life, in general, I think, to not have rules.

But not in a harmful way. Like going against social mores...I'll be in public and often imagine so many different funny things, completely unexpected things, people could do but don't because that's just 'not what you do.'  Like someone in a restaurant jumping on a table and breaking into song, or someone simply facing the back of the elevator instead of the doors, etc. It can be a lot of fun, actually, my kids and I make it into a game when out and about. 

[rustybucket]

Oh, you are so right...there have been rule breakers that have changed the whole direction of art as once defined.  Writers are artists, painters with words.  Bring on the rule breakers!!!!!!!!!