There’s nothing to match the thrill of having a hot idea–one that sets your blood on fire with anticipation and excitement. When that fire fills you, all you should want to do is get that idea down on paper, and at double time. Hot ideas burn out at a wicked pace, and you owe it to yourself to save it as fast as your little hands can write. These are wonderful moments in the life of any writer.

This is not about those times.

If the hot idea ignites your blood, then the absence of a hot idea can leave your veins shivering. Lots of writers frost over while waiting for that next hot idea to land in their lap. Some never even touch the keyboard or pen until the next idea “arrives”.

You need to dodge the hot/cold mentality altogether and focus on what really makes for a prolific writer. It isn’t waiting for that next idea to come to you–it’s going out and chasing down that next hot idea, clubbing it over the head, and dragging it back to your cave. But how do you chase down and club an idea?

Simple. By writing. Writing, no matter what.

Writing in cold blood is not always easy–hell, it almost never is. It can be tedious, frustrating, and can leave your head feeling numb. Every new word can remind you of that last trip to the dentist. But, just like getting a filling, you may not like it, but it’s worth it in the long run. Why?

Writing is a skill, and like any skill, without practice you lose your edge. Hell, if I don’t write every day then the words and ideas that I have in my head start to stave off and go stale. Your mind is a machine, and without daily maintenance, the parts gather gunk and the whole damn thing risks seizing up during one of those oh-so-rare hot ideas. Zero-to-Sixty writing is a high-risk game, and one you can avoid.

Writing in cold blood is annoying, it’s frustrating, and it tests your commitment. If you’re serious about being a writer, though, it’s one of the more important things you can do. Business types like the label “best practice”, and, for as little as I care about the business world, I have to agree. It is a best practice, because it keeps your juices flowing. A rolling stone gathers no moss, and pumping blood doesn’t go cold. Not only will you be ready when that next hot idea crosses your sights–you’ll probably handle it more quickly and with more depth of skill than you would have if you had just sat around waiting for it to fall into your lap.

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