Percolate

Not every idea comes in a sudden rush of inspiration. Not many at all, actually.

It’s OK to sit on things awhile. Let them percolate. Right now, for example, I’m working on rewrites for a play, and it’s taking a long time. I often find I’m just waiting for the characters to tell me what to write next. I believe they’re having an ongoing conversation somewhere in my mind while I’m not paying attention. Every so often, a line of dialogue or plot adjustment enters my consciousness and I write it down. Then, once a good amount of those thoughts are laid out, I get to work on piecing them together.

Trust that the process is happening even while you’re working on other things. Let yourself keep thinking about the project while focusing temporarily on something else.

Things have a way of getting clearer with distance.