Idea Smells

Spawned from TextSmells...

No Readily Available Examples: Too much generality is a sign that your statement is incomplete, incorrect, and/or incommunicable.

Emotions: The masterminds of trickery: anger, frustration, depression, and lust. When under their spell, you feel as if you're thinking clearly. This is a nearly unsmellable smell. That is, there's no way for you to fully understand that hitting the "Send" button is a mistake. If you can find it in you: Sleep on it. Take a walk. Do something that helps you get your priorities straight. After you've done that, toss your first draft and start again. (See also: StampOutFires.)

Tiredness: Another subtle killer. Tiredness is a drug that makes people think they're witty and piercing. Can you wait until morning to publicize your writing? You probably won't regret it.