Time. The world’s most valuable commodity. Not only that, but you can trade it for anything else.
The muse also needs it. The more time you spend doing the work, the better you become. It is a rule of nature.
But sometimes people get caught in this romantic way of thinking. Art is about inspiration, about some sort of poetry, not just work ethic. They discard the craft part of art…
But truth is, the muse demands you sit at your desk and do the work. That you set aside a certain number of hours each day and get stuff done.
It’s the one rule you cannot bend or break.
Don’t water this down.
Don’t be seduced into thinking that art is inherently different than any other kind of work.
Totally agree
I used to write only when inspired and write for two days straight and burn out and hate the world. Now I just putter along at around 4K a day with long breaks to let my characters tell me who they are and what they want to say – I can’t tell you the difference this has made.