Pinning Down Inspiration

One of my favorite writing quotes of all time: “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” — Jack London

To me it embodies all that it means to be a professional writer. Only hobby writers have time to sit around waiting for inspiration and lament about writer’s block. Those who do it for a living, however, sit their asses in the chair and write, even when they’re not inspired.

Don’t take that to mean I undervalue the importance of inspiration. After all, the smallest...