I read this in an article about Daniel Handler, the author who wrote A Series of Unfortunate Events under the pseudonym Lemony Snicket. He said, “So much of writing is mere contemplation, and it took me a few years to find validity in this idea. One day I’d write 12 pages, and the next I’d sit around and think and eke out one paragraph, and it took me awhile to realize that was a legitimate use of time. Stephen Merritt, a songwriter I collaborate with, helped me see that, as long as what I’m doing is moving my brain forward, it’s OK.”

I love this quote because we are working when we think. Before we can set our words down onto paper, we must have ideas to place there, and that takes using our brains.

Are you pushing yourself to get a certain number of pages written each day? Don’t forget that the thinking process counts as work, too.