In his slim book, Creativity for Critical Thinkers, Anthony Weston points out, “Our single greatest temptation is to stop as soon as we make a first breakthrough, as if some sort of final exam has been passed and now there is nothing more to be done...In fact we have usually only taken the first step of what could be many more. We’ve only cracked open the door. Real creativity only begins with the first breakthrough. Walk through that door – and keep going.”
Too often we (I definitely include myself) go for the first good idea, not realizing that pushing on might yield an even better idea. Weston has some recommendations for how to deepen the idea or move on to others:
* Consider the likely objections and problems the idea might encounter. Maybe you will come up with a version that takes these into account;
* Refine the original idea by making it more specific. Try varying some of its specific qualities to see what effect that has.
* Think of applying the idea to other problems or issues. You may be trying to solve a particular story problem but when you have an idea consider applying the idea to other parts of the story that you didn't feel were problematic. Weston writes, "Barry Nalebuff and Ian Ayres call this ‘solutions in search of problems’.”
