Tips for those ideas when you don't want them...

[Sheri Liegh Adams]

I'm sure every writer has ideas come up at the most inappropriate times or the most awqward moments. For me, it's as soon as my head hits my pillow to sleep. So, over the years, I've kept a microcassette recorder by my pillow and when the ideas come racing through, I talk the ideas into the tape and then when I have time, I listen to them, write them down and eventually get to work on them. Of course, sometimes I end up recording poem after poem...but it does help.
Another thing I do is I keep a small lined pad/notebook and a pen/pencil with me WHEREVER I GO. It's like one of those things you just don't leave home without. And have it somewhere you can grab it quick so you don't lose your idea(s). So when there is no time to write, just make a simple voice recording or jot it down and get to it later.

any other ideas?

Sheri Adams

[Anastasia Rabiyah]

I write down snippets on napkins, scrap paper, whatever I have on hand. For those pesky muses who talk a little and then hush up, I have a big fat virtual work in process folder. I imagine one day I will get in there and finish all those ideas, but until then, they're safe...