Writn' and the like

Recently I decided to take up writing the comic strips first and leaving the drawing to later. The reason for this is that I have since found it very hard to write comedy. Sure you can draw and write at the same time but I felt that it raised an issue of whether I relied too much on the drawing or the writing to make the laugh. I have actually found that by writing gags first, you tend to build a stronger idea and greater gag. All the editing happens in words first. This may not be unusual for sitcom writers but from a cartoonists perspective it is a little different. I now write between 4-5 gags in about 3 hours and all are very strong. When it comes time to nail down the artwork it is so much easier to focus on the drawing rather than the concept not working for some reason. Knowing the gag is solid is a relief when it could have taken a lot longer had I been drawing and writing simultaneously.