"Establish a routine. The idea out there is that writing is somewhat of a whimsical activity and you'll pursue creativity when the muse beckons you. I worked at a newspaper and I worked to deadlines. It didn't matter if I felt like writing that day, column inches had to be filled. It forced you to work past any kind of mental embargo. It was like a muscle that you just kept flexing, and it got like incrementally stronger each day. It taught me how to develop that muscle and how to stay dedicated to writing a book through the periods where you feel like you just want to quit."