Write down those ideas ASAP, or else!
I was recently engaged in some mundane household chores, and I was thinking about the short fiction project I’m currently working on. As I was working, I had a perfect idea for the story, complete with the exact wording of a descriptive passage and everything.
What did I do next? I continued with my chores. It wasn’t until I had finished and sat down at my computer did I try to recall that great idea. I began to realize that I could vaguely remember the idea itself, and as for the wording of that descriptive passage – gone!
After pounding my head on my desk for an hour, I was able to write something similar to what I thought of while cleaning. But the wording wasn’t right and it didn’t feel as fresh as it did when the original idea came to me. And even though I have moved on in the story, I’m still pulling my hair out over the lost opportunity. So what’s the lesson in all this?
Write down those ideas as soon as they come to you! Do you think you’ll remember that genius idea later? Chances are you will get distracted and you won’t remember it and you’ll be pulling your hair out! Write the idea down in an idea notebook (you do have one, right?), and if that’s not handy a scrap piece of paper will do, even a napkin. The point is to just get it down safely in writing so you can remember it later without any trouble.
Once you make a habit of carrying a pen and notebook with you at all times, and writing stuff down no matter where you are or what you’re doing (okay, maybe not a good idea if you’re driving), then it will become easier and easier. I know it’s a pain sometimes to stop what you’re doing and pull out that notebook, but it sure beats the alternative!
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