Write Even When You Are Not Writing

The other day I was driving home from work,And of all that dead time in the car, at the
day-dreaming about the story for the novel I amdoctors office, at the Jiffy Lube, how much time
currently writing. As I thought about it, new ideasis spent listening to the radio or flipping through
began to bubble up from somewhere inside me. Imagazines adorned with Angelina Jolie's lips that
knew it was good, and I knew it would enhancecould be spent expanding or deepening your
the book so when I got home, I quickly foundstory. These times are opportunities to wear
some paper and wrote it all out so I would notyour creative hat while not generating words and
loose the essence of what I pictured.paragraphs, but rather finding or expanding the big
I know this happens to all writers, especially whilepicture.
they are in the middle of a project. What I'm notYou may find a love story that deepens or a plot
sure of is how much priority is placed on thisline that has additional back story bringing new
time, thinking about your work while you are notrichness to the texture of the work. We have
at the keyboard.only a limited amount of time each day, each
We all have read that some of your best workyear, and in a lifetime. In our busy society, it is
can come from your mind solving problems andmore important than ever to make time for
generating ideas while you sleep. But do we feedreflection and to let you mind wander.
our mind before bed? Perhaps reviewing a troubleThe thing is we know how to do this because it is
area or just re-reading your last few pages ofusually how we develop a good idea for a novel in
writing before bed might prove a helpful ally inthe first place. Just choose to not stop while you
your writing the next morning.are in the crunch of writing the novel.