As a writer I’ve discovered that my “good ideas” have a life of about twenty seconds. If I fail to make a note, either electronically or on paper, half a minute later I’ll only remember that I had a good idea. I won’t remember what the good idea was.

Of course, different writers have different styles. I understand Stephen King never writes down a new idea. He feels that if the idea is good enough, then he will remember it. Obviously that has worked well for him.

What I know for sure is that i...