When It Comes to Writing, Are All the Good Ideas Already Taken?

byKStieneke

142 followers

7 months ago

Introduction:

When you're ready to write and you sit down to do so, does the thought ever creep into your mind: “Has this story, blog, or essay already been done before?” And if it has, then what’s left to say? Are you just going to be rehashing old content?

So What Do You Do?

Maybe, in a sense, everything has been said—but just not by you. You can always acknowledge the fear of unoriginality. The best way to write about a subject that’s been tackled countless times is to reframe it. After all, repetition is part of literary tradition.

To make your article feel more original, remember that originality comes from voice, not premise. Everyone sees things a little differently, and how you perceive a subject—and present it in writing—will always carry a flavor that’s uniquely your own. If you're worried someone might accuse you of plagiarism, take heart: the way you present it—with your tone, structure, worldview, and life experience—can make an all-too-familiar topic feel brand new.

Just start writing, and ideas will begin to show up. Let your thoughts flow. Use personal experiences whenever you can to present universal themes. It’s also a great idea to blend genres—for example, turning a how-to into a kind of memoir. Write using the insights you’ve gained on the subject, especially those drawn from your own lived experience.

What if you're dealing with writer’s block in the form of not knowing what to write about? Remember: ideas can hide in the strangest places. They can be found in conversations, dreams, annoyances, pet peeves, and your passions. Just the other night, I had a dream that all the clocks in my home—and even watches worldwide—stopped at the same time. That dream could carry hidden meaning and spark a piece of writing. For example:

1. The dream may represent a moment in your life when you're being called to step outside the pressures of time—deadlines, aging, routines. It could signal a spiritual or emotional awakening, inviting you to live more fully in the present.
2. All clocks stopping simultaneously might symbolize a pivotal turning point. Something in your life—an era, a relationship, a mindset—may be "ending," pausing the flow of what once was and making space for something new.
3. You may feel stuck—unable to move forward in some area of life. The world stopping could reflect internal stagnation, a lack of progress, or a fear of the future.

There are many other interpretations of a dream like that, and each one could spring forth its own subject matter to explore in writing.

Also, to generate writing ideas, you could take a cliché and challenge it—or tell the other side of a well-known narrative.

Conclusion:

Remember, you don’t need a never-before-seen idea. What you do need is your true perspective. Write only what you can write—meaning, focus on expressing what is uniquely yours: your voice, your outlook, your truth. No one else can write it quite the way you can.

Be authentic—write from your own experience, insight, or imagination, rather than imitating others or forcing yourself into a topic that doesn’t resonate with you. Be unique—your life, your thoughts, your emotions are distinct. And above all, hold on to creative integrity. Don’t just write to please an audience or chase trends.

Honor your inner voice, and trust that your most original work will always come from being fully yourself on the page.