Modular Writing

As a new person to writing, I was wondering if anyone uses a 'modular' technique to keep ideas on ther boil, whilst waiting to use them ?

When I wrote my one and only script, it took on a life of its own. I started off with an idea for an opening scene and then wrote out the rest of the episode as I thought it would pan out. It took a long time. If it doesn't get anywhere, I think there are chunks of it that I could extract and with a little rewrite, use elsewhere.

My thought process now is, if I have an idea for a scene, I could write it out using generic characters and store it for use later, when an opportunity cropped up. Naturally it would need some adaptation, but would provide the bare bones for a scene, instead of having to come up with a full script to a tight competition deadline.

Does any of this make semse ?

Yup but perhaps I do it less overtly.

I'll often pick up old sketches, lines etc dust them down. Make them fit the script then add them in to it.

So each time I'm writing a sketch it's got potential life else where.

Yes. It makes perfect sense.

I have a Word doc imaginatively titled Future Ideas in which I jot down any ideas, random scenes, storylines, etc that I may use in the future.

Quote: Mikey Jackson @ May 15 2012, 8:17 PM BST

Yes. It makes perfect sense.

I have a Word doc imaginatively titled Future Ideas in which I jot down any ideas, random scenes, storylines, plans to invade Poland, establish a thousand year Reich, have my neice poo on me etc that I may use in the future.

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Yah just Godwinned your self Mikeyj

Your sitcom should only include scenes that are appropriate to that situation. Your characters should only say what's appropriate for them. So spending your time writing out a scene with generic characters when you have an idea for a non-specific scene would be time better spent actually working on it.
But then I depend heavily on scraps of paper grabbed from anywhere filled with barely legible writing that live screwed up in the bottom of my bag. My writing output has hugely decreased since the introduction of oyster cards

Like Richard Pryor in Superman III?

And where as character is central to sitcom, sometimes a scene can be written for different characters.