Creativity
Nesting Blue Herons, Moss Landing CA — Sept. 21, 2024
“You can't use up creativity. The more you use the more you have.” – Maya Angelou
Some wise teacher once told me when you’re writing fiction don’t save the good stuff for later. She was talking about a dramatic scene you might envision for some turning point or for the climax of your novel. Or maybe you’re saving it for a plot twist designed to surprise your reader at some later point.
Write the scene. You might decide to use it earlier, and it may take you in an entirely new direction. The amazing thing about writing down your best ideas as they come to you is that they generate more great ideas.
If you ultimately decide to place the scene later in the story, it can act as a guidepost to get you there. It can help you create an emotional landscape for your character to reach that moment in time. It can help you prepare the reader for what’s to come with carefully timed revelations or foreshadowing.
The point is you never have to worry about using up your best ideas too soon. There’s more where they came from.
