Steven King - Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work

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Welcome to The Daily Quote—a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern for November 15th.

So, let’s talk about today’s celebration—it's National I Love to Write Day. Now, before you say, “Andrew, I don’t have time to write,” let me assure you that today also happens to be National Ample Time Day. Yes, it's real! You’ve been gifted an imaginary holiday with plenty of hours to finally crack open that journal, draft that novel, or jot down that story idea that’s been gathering dust in the back of your mind. Two holidays joining forces today for one purpose: giving you the chance and the time to write.

And since we’re talking about writing, I’ve brought along a quote from one of the most famous writers of our time, Stephen King. He once said:

“Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.”

King’s words pack a punch, don’t they? He’s essentially saying that waiting for the perfect moment or a sudden jolt of inspiration isn’t the way to get it done. Instead, writing—like most things worth doing—requires showing up, even on those days when your brain feels about as creative as a bowl of oatmeal - without the blueberries, bananas and maple syrup.

Inspiration may or may not show up, but you will.

Today, on National I Love to Write Day, let King’s quote nudge you toward action. Maybe you’ve always wanted to start a blog, maybe a novel, or maybe just a habit of jotting down your thoughts in a journal.

King reminds us that inspiration isn’t a necessary ingredient to start. In fact, inspiration is often more like an optional topping, a dollop of whipped cream if it shows up, but you don’t need it to enjoy what you’re creating.

And for anyone thinking, “I’d love to write, but I’m just too busy,” remember, it’s also National Ample Time Day. So maybe today, think of time as a little more flexible. Instead of waiting for that mythical stretch of hours, take five minutes to write down whatever comes to mind. King would likely say the same—writing doesn’t need ideal conditions; it just needs you.

And you might find that once your warmed up and in the flow of typing on your keyboard - inspiration may strike... so don't wait... get those fingers moving.

And with that, let’s make the most of today. Grab a pen, a keyboard, or even a napkin, and see where it takes you. Thank you for joining me here today on The Daily Quote. I’ll be back tomorrow with more thoughts to start your day right. Until then, happy writing, and enjoy your “ample time”!

I'm outta here... See you tomorrow for another Daily Quote.