Day 15 – How to keep on track

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Staying on Track: How to Maintain Focus and Resist the Siren Call of Tangents in Your Writing

You’ve got the premise. The spark that ignited your novel, screenplay, or short story still glows brightly. You’ve outlined your plot, mapped your protagonist’s arc, and maybe even written the first few scenes. But then it happens—midway through chapter three, an exciting new character pops into your head. Or a fascinating subplot about ancient runes in the protagonist’s attic. Or a sudden urge to write a 1,000-word scene about your main character’s favourite coffee shop barista who definitely has a secret past.

Welcome to the writing life. Welcome to the beautiful, messy temptation of going off track.

Every writer knows this battle: the lure of the tangent. That moment when your imagination gallops ahead, eager to explore new territory—often at the expense of the story you set out to tell. So how do you stay focused? How do you keep your story on course when creativity keeps offering enticing detours?

Here’s how.

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1. Remember Your “Why” — Revisit Your Premise

When the urge to veer strikes, pause. Take a breath. And re-read your original premise. Why did you start this story? What core idea, theme, or emotional journey drives it?

Ask yourself: Does this new idea serve the heart of the story? If the answer is no, no matter how brilliant the idea seems, it might be a distraction. You can always save it—more on that later.

Your premise is your anchor. Let it ground you when shiny new ideas try to pull you off course.

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2. Use Your Outline as a Compass—Not a Cage

Even if you’re a discovery writer (“pantser”), having even a loose roadmap helps. Your outline doesn’t need to be rigid, but it should act as a compass pointing you toward your story’s destination.

When a tempting subplot or character appears, first consider: Where would this fit in the outline? Does it move the plot forward or deepen character development? Or is it just… interesting?

If it doesn’t serve a structural or emotional purpose, it’s probably a tangent. Not all tangents are bad, but they should earn their place in the narrative. If it doesn’t advance the plot, theme, or character arc—tread carefully.

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3. Create a “Someday” Folder

Here’s the secret no one tells you: You don’t have to kill your darlings. You just have to postpone them.

Keep a “Someday” document—a digital notebook, a folder, a journal—where you stash every brilliant idea that doesn’t belong in this story. Character backstories, alternate endings, intriguing subplots, random world-building details—dump them here.

When you add to this folder, you’re honouring your creativity without derailing your progress. Later, you might realise this idea belongs in your next book, a side project, or a short story. You’ve just built a reservoir of inspiration.

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4. Set Incremental Goals and Deadlines

Distraction often thrives in aimlessness. If you don’t have clear daily or weekly goals, your mind naturally wanders. “Write something” is too vague. “Write 500 words advancing the inciting incident” is focused.

Break your project into small, manageable tasks:

• Flesh out Act 2 turning point
• Rewrite the hospital scene with higher emotional stakes
• Clarify the antagonist’s motivation

These micro-goals create momentum—and momentum keeps digressions at bay.

If you catch yourself daydreaming about a new character’s origin story during writing time, jot down one sentence in your “Someday” folder and return to your task. Reward focus with curiosity later.

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5. Practice the “So What?” Test

When you’re tempted to add a scene, character, or subplot, ask: So what? What does this add to the story? What changes because this exists?

If the answer is: “It’s cool,” “It’s mysterious,” or “I just really like this idea”—that’s not enough.

Great stories thrive on cause and effect. Every element should ripple through the narrative. If your new subplot doesn’t change the outcome or deepen understanding, it might be excess baggage.

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6. Schedule “Exploration Time”

Ironically, the best way to avoid constant veering is to allow veering—on purpose.

Set aside time—maybe 30 minutes every Friday—to explore side ideas. Write that barista’s backstory. Sketch the ancient runes. Flesh out the alternate timeline.

When you give your imagination a designated outlet, it stops demanding attention during drafting hours. It learns: Creativity has a time. Now is for focus.

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7. Trust the Power of Revision

One of the biggest reasons writers go off track is fear—fear that their story isn’t interesting enough. So they add more: more drama, more mystery, more characters.

But here’s the truth: A strong, focused story is often more powerful than a sprawling one. You can enrich a solid core in revision. You can’t fix a scattered narrative by piling on more layers.

Write the story you meant to tell first. Then, in edits, ask: What’s missing? What needs depth? That’s when you decide whether to weave in some of those saved ideas—intentionally, not impulsively.

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Final Thought: Focus Is a Muscle

Like any skill, focus strengthens with practice. The more you train yourself to return to your premise, honour your outline, and defer distractions, the easier it becomes.

You don’t have to suppress your creativity to stay on track. You just have to channel it wisely.

So the next time inspiration calls you down a winding path—smiling, promising adventure—smile back, take a note, and say:
“Not now. But maybe later.”

Then return to the road. Your story is waiting.