For many writers stories don't present themselves whole but rather in parts and in spurts. It doesn't always flow when they're at the writing table or even in the writing mood, it comes whenever it wants to. So no matter where you are or what you are doing you need to be prepared to document these story bits when they come to you.

It may be plots ideas, character details or a story premise but whatever it is you need to document it or you will lose it.

Text Message

Sometimes we find ourselves in dark places and still want to take down notes. This could be anything from an unlit street to a movie theater. When you get that idea but can't see enough to be able to write it down on paper send yourself a text message with the idea for you to later put on paper and store. Many phones and mobile providers allow you to send text messages directly to your email account so that might be an even better solution: send a text to email, print and store it for later.

Voicemail

There are times when we don't have pen and paper and maybe we don't know how to text message ourselves. Or maybe the idea is so big that you would need 5 text messages to get it across and by then you would've forgotten some important parts. Maybe you need a quick way to get it out without having to use your thumbs. Call yourself and leave a detailed voicemail that you can later transcribe to paper. If you can find any phone you can get this note taken.

Dictaphone

If you use the voicemail note taking trick and find you like the ease of speaking your ideas rather than typing, you may want to do it all the time. Leaving voicemails for yourself has limitations and frustrations that can arise if you rely on it for a lot of note taking but a mini-dictaphone may be just the thing. They have digital ones that can fit right in your pocket and they still make the kind that uses tape so you can always keep a record of your past ideas rather than delete them as you would with a digital recorder. If you're the kind of writer that has a lot of physical chores to do you might find yourself able to write and work with the use of a dictaphone.

Email

Many of us have jobs where we can't really do any conspicuous note taking or don't want anyone to know we are writers. If you don't feel comfortable speaking your ideas out loud or using your cell phone at work, then consider sending yourself an email. It might technically be abuse of company resources but it's not as bad as stealing pens and we've all done that. When you're typing an email nobody will even question what you are doing, it will just look like you're doing work. Later when you get home you can print these emails or otherwise file them for future use.

Don't give up on writing due to your circumstances. If you are committed to writing than you should stay prepared for the muse to strike. No matter what situation you find yourself in make the effort to be able to catch the magic.