A Writer's Perspective
by Beth K. Vogt

Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Rascally Rabbit Trails

I was sitting in my "office" chatting with Tiffany, a writing buddy. (My office is whatever booth is available at Panera Bread.) We were going over an article Tiffany wants to pitch at a writers conference next month.

About a third of the way through the article, we discovered a rabbit trail. You know what I mean: a thought that veered off from Tiffany's main point and ran away from the focus of her article.

What's a writer to do? Get rid of the rabbit trail, right? Slice out the meandering sentences and get back on track.

Well, yes and no.

As we discussed how several sentences strayed, I told her the rabbit trail was a worthwhile thought--but not in that article.

Tiffany's focus for the article is relationships, specifically women's friendships. Now was not the time to write about her relationship with her husband. Even so, what she wrote was good. I didn't want to just throw it away.

"Every rabbit trail is a potential article," I said. Then I sat back and thought about my statement. And then I decided I liked it and scribbled it in my journal. Those seven words turned needed-to-be-deleted paragraphs into possible seeds for another article.
Turn your concept of writing rabbit trails upside down. Weed them out of the article--but don't just mutter, "Will I ever learn to stick to my topic?"

Instead, stop and consider if the the thought is worth pursuing in a separate article.
Rabbit trails are not a sign of what a lousy writer you are. Rather, think of them as misplaced nuggets of truth or personal experience. Set them aside while you tighten your work in progress. Then take a look and see if it's worth turning that rabbit trail into the main road of a new piece.

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