| When writing creatively, it is rather ironic that as | | | | easier to flip through them that opening and closing |
| writers we often put ourselves in a box and then | | | | files on the computer. Regardless, these little jots of |
| refuse to think outside of it. It is hardly creative! This | | | | story line are worth their weight in gold when you |
| is particularly true when it comes to developing the | | | | start to bog down in your writing. |
| story line for your work. We pick a plot line and then | | | | Mixing and matching stories is something most writers |
| stick to it come hell or high water. | | | | immediately frown upon. I used to be this way, but |
| It is the rare writer that develops one story line from | | | | suggest you reconsider the notion. Sooner or later, |
| start to finish. Don’t get me wrong, many | | | | your flow of writing is going to hit the metaphorical |
| writers focus on one plot but other ideas pop in and | | | | dam. When it does, whip out your collection of story |
| out all the time. Trying to zero in on one story for a | | | | snippets. Reading through these little snippets is like |
| longer period, particularly when writing a novel, can | | | | eating creative writing food. |
| lead you to some really serious problems with writer | | | | Are any of the snippets likely to fit directly into your |
| block. It just isn’t easy to write from point A to | | | | story line? You might be able to massage them into |
| point Z without failing to come up with something | | | | the plot, but the positive effect will probably be a bit |
| interesting at point D, J, M and S. | | | | more indirect. Instead of solving your plot problem, |
| What about these other ideas that pop up from | | | | the snippets will get you thinking again. Each little |
| time-to-time? If you ignore these moments of | | | | story line nugget can give you some inspiration to |
| inspiration, you are making a mistake. You should be | | | | create a twist for your current writing that just |
| writing them down in a journal or on your computer | | | | might get you over the dam in your plot line. |
| or somewhere. I prefer a journal because it makes it | | | | |