The way I see it, creating a book from inspiration means you’re a writer. Creating a book from calculation means you’re an author…sooner or later.
I happily wrote romance novels for years. My stories and characters were a little offbeat and unusual, I suspect, but Harlequin/Silhouette took a chance with me and I got a few published books under my belt. I was asked on two different occasions to be part of series involving established authors whose work I admired. My most recent Silhouette novel sold out of its print run.
But after that, I couldn’t buy a contract.
Everything I wrote was off the mark. My wonderful editor seemed surprised at my sudden incapacity to come up with a workable story. I submitted proposal after proposal—some rejected outright, and some rejected after several overhauls. I was confused and disappointed and upset. I’d thought, after several books, that I was a sure thing, and I discovered I really, really wasn’t.
After many failed efforts, I sat back and had a good think. There was this strange story I wanted to write about a tough-girl tooth faerie and I was pretty sure no one would take a chance on it. I also knew I couldn’t sell it on proposal because I never before wrote urban fantasy. But I loved the idea of writing a take on fae that I didn’t believe had ever been done. And suddenly, without a contract, I was in a nothing-to-lose position. I wrote TOOTH AND NAIL over several months.
That was me writing with inspiration. And after I typed THE END, I knew I had a manuscript that I loved, but publishers might not buy into the concept.
Very long story short, Night Shade bought the book. By then it had undergone no less than eight rewrites in order to make it attractive – and marketable – to readers.
That was me writing with calculation.
If I’d ignored my inspiration, the book would still be in my head. If I’d ignored my calculation, the book would still be under my bed. (Dr. Seuss sing-songy rhyme there not intended, but pretty cool.)

– Jennifer Safrey