This reminds me of a very similar idea from Scott Adams (creator of Dilbert): http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703293204576106164123424314.html htt

This reminds me of a very similar idea from Scott Adams (creator of Dilbert): http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703293204576106164123424314.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870329320457610... Quote: I spent some time working in the television industry, and I learned a technique that writers use. It's called "the bad version." When you feel that a plot solution exists, but you can't yet imagine it, you describe instead a bad version that has no purpose other than stimulating the other writers to imagine a better version.