A man is a fool not to put everything he has, at any given moment, into what he is creating. You’re there now doing the thing on paper. You’re not killing the goose, you’re just producing an egg. So I don’t worry about inspiration, or anything like that. It’s a matter of just sitting down and working. I have never had the problem of a writing block. I’ve heard about it. I’ve felt reluctant to write on some days, for whole weeks, or sometimes even longer. I’d much rather go fishing, for example, or go sharpen pencils, or go swimming, or what not. But, later, coming back and reading what I have produced, I am unable to detect the difference between what came easily and when I had to sit down and say, “Well, now it’s writing time and now I’ll write.” There’s no difference on paper between the two.
I like that he mentions sharpening pencils. From cleaning to cooking to emailing to trimming beards, writers find every last way to procrastinate when it’s butt-in-chair time.
And personally, I find the stuff I struggle with needs much more revision than when I’m really cooking. But eventually it all kind of evens out. And I’m not that sure he was much of a revisionist.
Be Obscure Clearly 