Everyone knows we should recycle because it's good for the environment. But it can also be good for your writing. No, I don't mean rehashing the same schtick over and over. But try not to throw out anything that you've abandoned, are stuck on, or that just doesn't seem to work.
Get a folder to live on your desk, and put all those fragments away for safe keeping. Once a year, pull it out. You might be surprised. I've rediscovered little nuggets that worked excellently in entirely different contexts. Sometimes the space and time put between you and that unfinished business will allow for a fresh perspective, and you can pick up from where you left off. (I've returned to scenes started over ten years ago) But don't take my word for it. Harold Pinter's masterpiece Moonlight would never have happened if he didn't reduce, reuse, and recyle.
