I remember someone once saying not to trust any thought you have about writing unless you are actually writing. I think it was either Professor Barden or my buddy Dave.

Here’s how it happens. I have an idea. I think I’ll remember it. I don’t. Whenever I record a voice memo, it comes out all bungled and not nearly as brilliant as it sounded in my head.

Anyway, here’s the solution. A regular, routine habit of writing. The thoughts are good. Even the voice memo thing is good. But these serve to get the brain going on an idea so it can work on it while you go about your day. Then when you finally sit down to write during your regularly scheduled writing session, the ideas may present themselves from the recesses of your brain. After writing nonsense for 20 or so minutes of course.

Professor Barden said that somebody said don’t be precious about the wood. Do the work. Don’t make it out to be more than it is. Or less. No carpenter wrings his hands for a week and a half before he slaps the wood down on the bench and gets to cutting. Or nailing. Or mitering. Or whatever. They just get up, grab their lunch pail, show up at the job site, and start working. They don’t get all precious about the wood.

*while nothing you just read was true, it was based on an actual conversation with my friend Paul