Book Quote by Erik Wolpaw
“If you think reading a book is hard, you should try writing one. Because it's even harder. It's still not as hard as writing a game, though. If you discount the purely visual pop-up parts, a book is made almost entirely of words. As a novelist, you just need to think of a few decent strings of words and then fill the other 98% of the book with more or less random descriptions of things and exclamation points.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Game developer Erik Wolpaw on writing, 2020
Writing a book is challenging, but creating a game adds layers of complexity beyond text.
In simple terms: Writing books is hard; games are harder.
Key Takeaway
Expect greater difficulty in game design.
Themes
creativity
writing
game development
challenge
Mood
inspirational
realistic
Type
advice
industry insight
When to use this quote
- Novel writing
- game design
- creative projects
- skill development
Key Concepts
Narrative design
interdisciplinary skill
complexity management
Questions to Reflect On
- What aspects of game creation feel most daunting?
- How can writers transition to interactive storytelling?
A Different Perspective
Writing games requires more than prose; technical and interactive elements add difficulty.
