"I am writing under a deadline, and tonight I am thinking that the seasons of creativity pass very much like the passing storm. There are times that are simply difficult, and those times will pass — eventually. My writing will get easier. Just not tonight.
"I remind myself of what I know: the trick to surviving difficult times is to admit they are truly difficult. Yet these difficult times will pass. There is no point in fighting the storm or willing it to pass sooner. The storm takes the time it takes. There is no point in pressuring myself. Better to gently encourage my psyche, practicing delight in what I find. The storm is a tutor to me. Its turbulence teaches that I am resilient enough to survive the tumult.
"Much of our mythology about creativity centers on drama. Creativity is spoken of in violent terms. We experience a 'flash of inspiration,' 'a sudden breakthrough,' 'a startling insight.' Sometimes creativity is dramatic. More often and more happily, it comes to us with quiet urgency. Our days are calm and our creativity bubbles along like a gentle stream, delightful but not dramatic. The key to being prolific is steady production. It works well to set a modest daily quotient, one that can be met without too much strain. For me, the daily quotient is three pages."
