I’ve noticed that works of genius come from extended periods of not-busy time. Being able to produce a staggering work comes from the ability to be absorbed in it. Inconvenient for the rest of us, that puts us in a position where it’s challenging to produce something of immense value, especially as we go about busy lives. The demands I have on the rest of my time often compromise my artistic vision, as I prioritize other things.
This brings up an interesting question. Should your output be rare and high intensity, or should it be frequent, but likely less good on average. I find that the average blog post I write on here is nothing to write home about, while the articles I used to publish in my student paper and national magazines had a lot more thought behind them.
On one hand, I put more time into individual pieces when I was writing magazine articles. On the other, I’m keeping writing up as a muscle to avoid atrophy while I work on other fulfillment projects.
Because I’m cutting down on my material possessions, training, and otherwise challenging myself, in effect, writing should become a bigger fraction of my time, as other things slip away.
Plus, since I’m trying to write a book, there’s going to be considerable time spent revising, to ensure that every word means something.
Isadore Johnson's Website 