Don't wait until you're sitting in front of your computer to capture some of life's greatest novel-worthy moments.
Some writers select specific times during the day to sit and write, and it works well for them. If your lifestyle doesn't allow this or you find yourself thinking about writing all day long and unable to sit for an extended period of time, there's no reason you can't capture your thoughts several times during the day.
For this you will need, at the very least, a notebook. If you're anything like me, own dozens of notebooks, and forget to carry them, index cards are great because you can take just one with you when you've used it, and they're very cheap. Also try sticky notes and a digital voice recorder. The point is to spread these items out throughout the house and in other places you frequent. Keep them in your office, living room, kitchen, on the bedside table, and even in the bathroom. Stash them in your purse, car, and garage. If you get a digital voice recorder, buy a cheap cell phone clip that it will fit in and wear it on your belt. This will keep it near you at all times.
Randomly throughout the day, when you have an idea, reach for the nearest piece of paper (you'll need pens for this too), and jot it down, or grab your voice recorder and leave a message. Decide where to put your note so you don't lose it, and schedule a time to compile your notes. One option is to sit down every night to review your notes and type up what you think is good, or use your following morning writing time. Another option is to keep them in a card file box, and sort through them weekly. Whatever you do, don't forget about them or let them pile too high. If you become frustrated and neglect them, the ideas are as useless as if you'd left them in your head and done nothing.
When you "write all day long," you'll begin to notice things you never paid much attention to, like how great the aloof grocery store clerk would be as a character, and how appropriate the geography of your local park would be for a scene in your book. You'll take small things that happen to you throughout the day, like dropping your change at the register or getting cut of fin traffic, and place them into your book. These small and seemingly inconsequential references are just the ticket for creating books and characters that are believable. You might even find that you get so excited about your stories you schedule time to write more often.
When you're able to record ideas spontaneously, finding time to write is no longer a problem, and staying motivated comes naturally. Instead of grasping for ideas and themes, you might even find you have more stimuli than you can handle!
