When you reach the fork, go left
Robert Kirkman, in his interview on Off Panel said that when his co-creator, artist David Finch depicted a sword Kirkman had written into the script, as this exquisite crystal sword, that ended up becoming the titular Skinbreaker of the comic. This had never been part of the plan, but when the fork came, he went left.
On a different episode of the same podcast, host Dan Harper talks to Matt Fraction of how Brian K Vaughan revealed that Ghus, a cute little seal-man was never meant to be a regular character in Saga. But when artist Fiona Staples drew him, Vaughan knew that he had to lean in and incorporate him into the story. Again, another left turn.
Listening to these podcast episodes reminded me that it is often the unexpected moments that reveal themselves to be creative opportunities — but only if we lean into them.
What will you do when you reach the fork?