Has this ever happened to you? You block out time on your calendar, you get your pen or pencil—or computer—ready, and you sit down at your desk, ready to write. You’ve been looking forward to this time and can’t wait to get your creative juices flowing.

So, you sit there, patiently waiting for the Muse to arrive and deliver the creativity straight to your brain. You’re ready to go, ready to transcribe.

And… nothing.

If you’ve had this experience, you’re not alone. Writers all over the world, from the beginning of time, have felt the creative well run dry. There are few things in life more frustrating than being a writer who is waiting for the words that just won’t come.

But wait a second. If that’s the case, how do we explain the world’s most prolific writers? What do we make of those authors who produce book after book for decades?

One such person was the western writer Louis L’Amour. He wrote over one hundred novels and several books’ worth of short stories. What’s more, he did not start writing until his early 40’s. Louis L’Amour was one of the most prolific writers who ever lived.

What was his secret? How did he deal with writer’s block and produce so much work? He gave a little sliver of a secret when he said, “Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”

Louis L’Amour was not known for long, confusing stories or explanations, so we can take his words at face value. If we want to approach our writing as professionals, we must practice the discipline of turning the faucet on and just writing, no matter what.

One way to prime the pump, so to speak, is to come each day prepared with something to write. Make it a habit to plan your writing in advance. Keep a notebook or computer file of ideas, and don’t come to the blank page without a prompt or an idea of what you’re going to say.

Some writers resist this idea, believing that it’s better to let creative inspiration come in its own time. But the lighting strikes you much more often when you’re already standing in the rain.

So, turn on the faucet and let the water flow.