I’m quite the optimist when it comes to the potential of ideas. I feel like many of my best ideas haven’t been fully actualized in word form just yet. Within my hyperactive creative mind, unwritten thoughts often meander like untamed rivers, branching off into tributaries, eventually leading to a great ocean of inspiration. Sadly, most times, they will wander too far from quenching waters, instead disappearing into the sands of forgetfulness. They become lost orphans, scattered seeds of potential brilliance, often overlooked, underappreciated, and unexplored.
On October 2nd, 2022, I embarked on a journey to shepherd these strays into a coherent sanctuary: my Writer’s Notebook project. It was a conscious decision-making process to better organize my often orphaned and scattered thoughts into a streamlined form. Previously, I found myself just sticking my scattered musings and reflections into a long, scrolling document. There they would inevitably sit and stew for years at a time. So, this new endeavor wasn’t merely an exercise in collection, but a dedicated effort to nurture and realize the potential housed within these embryonic inklings. Over a year later now, I’ve decided to share my reflection on this ongoing process.
The Problem with Scattered Thoughts
The creative process, especially mine, is rarely linear. Like a stormy sea, my mind churns out ideas in waves, torrents, and trickles; you just never know how the creative waters will be flowing from one day to the next. As someone with a penchant for order, I often struggle to accommodate this chaos.
To bring some reason to the scattered storms, I jot down flashes of inspiration on bits of paper or in digital notes. Unfortunately, without structure, these repositories become black holes, where ideas become consigned to oblivion. Day after day, I come across curious phrases and sentences stewing in latent obscurity in my writing archives, only upon their rediscovery do they have a chance to blossom into the masterpieces they could become.
Structuring creativity has always been quite a challenge for me, as it is for most with overactive imaginations. Recognizing the disservice done to these neglected brainchildren, I initiated a note taking system transcends traditional ‘cut-and-paste’ methods by introducing the concept of ‘lifting.’
This is where I came up with LFE (Lifted for Further Embellishment) acronym. This process doesn’t merely transplant an idea; it uproots it with its native soil, preserving the context, the initial spark, and the raw emotion that first bore it. In this way, each thought is acknowledged, its genesis recorded, and its potential for further cultivation clearly earmarked. ‘Lifting’ VS the ‘copy-pasta’ method is a matter of intention not action.
So, I’ve found that with my Writer’s Notebook series, I can now give context to the ideas as I take note of them. This way, I can keep track of what ideas work — as foundations for standalone works — and what ideas still need work.
Taking a Gardener’s Perspective on Ideas
Of course, the note taking system itself is only part of the solution. I found I must adopt a mindset similar to an avid gardener — an unflinching optimist who understands that not all seeds sown will sprout immediately. Some ideas demand patience; their gestation periods being wildly unpredictable. They require the right conditions — a sudden bolt of inspiration, the cross-pollination with another concept, or perhaps a pertinent life experience to provide context in order to blossom.
Therefore, my notebook entries aren’t mere recordings of events and fleeting trifles; they are an act of faith, a belief in the latent potential of every thought captured. The Writer’s Notebook project has become more than an organizational tool; it’s a commitment to the belief that every idea, no matter how small, erratic, or undeveloped, carries within it the seeds of something profound.
So, to my fellow creators drowning in your own ocean of scattered thoughts, consider the following. Structure your creativity, be patient with your ideas, and maintain an unwavering optimism. Create your own sanctuary for these wandering sparks of brilliance. Lift them, nurture them, and watch as they illuminate the skies with their full, unbridled potential. Remember, your mind isn’t just a repository of thoughts; it’s a crucible transforming observations and contemplations, which through patience, love, and dedication, can find a home in the words of pages and the minds of readers.
I hope that my thoughts on my learnings from producing this series can serve as a guidepost for others who might find themselves guardians of their own galaxy of orphaned ideas. If nothing else, when it comes to putting your ideas down in writing, there’s an important need to be patient. This is why I store them in notebook entries that I later return to when I need to dip in the well for inspiration.
~ Amelia Desertsong
