Screw inspiration

June 26, 2013

“Mood? What has mood to do with it? You fight when the necessity arises — no matter the mood! Mood’s a thing for cattle or making love or playing the baliset. It’s not for fighting.” -Gurney Halleck, Frank Herbert’s Dune

Replace “fighting” with “writing”, and that’s largely my opinion on the matter of inspiration.

Oh sure, inspiration is nice. It’s great when it strikes and the words start flowing at double, triple, even quadruple your usual speed. When you get it, embrace it and ride that sucker for as long as you can.

Just don’t depend on it. If you can’t do your art without inspiration, then you’re not trying hard enough. Make a habit of doing it every day at the same time, then sit down and do it. Damn your muse! If it comes to the party, that’s great, but don’t let its absence stop you from getting your work done.

You’ll be surprised by how much more you can accomplish when you stop waiting and just start.