Writing down thoughts is a strict rule I’ve adopted over the last year. The number of times I’ve forgotten a great idea because I believed that I’d remember it later is staggering.

However, I’ve also learned that with some things, immediate action is required. Writing is a good example, although I imagine that this applies to any creative act.

Since beginning this daily writing practice, I’ve written down nearly every idea for a post that’s popped into my head. This was mostly out of fear that I would run out of ideas.

Thankfully, I usually find one.

That list has only grown over time. There are dozens of post topics in that file — posts I’ve never written. This is because the idea came in a moment of inspiration, and I put it in the bank to save for a rainy day.

On the days when I struggle for a topic, I scroll through the list in vain. I don’t feel anything for any of them.

Most of them could probably have been great posts had I written them in the moment, when the muse was present. Now they’re just words on a list.

Of course, it’s impossible to stop what I’m doing and write every post that comes to mind in a given moment. I don’t have that freedom. But sometimes I can, and I put it off with the assumption that I will feel as inspired later as I do right now.

If I’ve learned anything from this daily practice it’s the importance of acting when inspiration strikes. When the muse shows up, you can’t put her on a shelf for later use. There is only now.