I actually feel that the longer I think about something the better it is. I don't want to say this is a quality (the reality) of aging, but when I was younger I was more apt to rush into something. I do set deadlines for beginning a project, but by that time I've thought about it long enough that the words flow easily and the project completes itself quickly. Depth and quality come from the prolonged dwelling on the concepts and then when it's all right in your head it just pours out like good wine from a bottle.

John, I find it depends on the story. Sometimes I can hardly wait to get to the computer to write and other times I have to force myself to get the story done.
I am a journalist by trade (profession?) but only spend about one third of my writing time on garden topics.
When I feel inspired by the subject stories almost seem to write themselves - if not I labour over them for an hour or so, rework them the next day and send them off. After all newspaper stories today are tomorrow's rubbish. For the rates that garden writers get paid here in Western Australia one can not afford to put too much time into them.

regards Deryn