Original ideas are overrated and nonexistent anyway
Make your Frankenstein's Monster of an idea a reality.
Lots of new readers have joined us since last week — welcome! 👋🏽 And a warm hello again to all my existing friends. We're a mighty little list of 200+ — that's almost the size of a small wedding in India, hehe.
Today, I'm stepping back for a little bit of perspective.
I've been writing for more than a decade now — blogs, stories, articles, and now, this newsletter. I've said many things, covered several topics, and somehow, I still find something new to write about each week.
But is that true? Is it really something new? Or am I just rehashing something someone (probably a million someones) has already said? So then it's not original, is it?
Right off the bat, I'm going to tell you there are very few new and original ideas left to uncover and not just in this newsletter, literally anywhere. Humans have existed on earth for somewhere between 200,000 and 2 million years, aka a shit load of time. So, the chances of any of us doing something new are very, very minuscule. Almost impossible.
So then, I hear you ask, what's the point? Why do I write this newsletter? Why should you make that artwork or do that thing that someone's already done before you?
Because, as That Content Shed puts it, "it's never been said by you."
Original ideas vs. new ideas
"Our ideas of 'originality' are evolving every second."
Someone pointed out this important fact on Quora. Human intelligence has evolved — from walkmans to iPods to phones; we keep creating new things and new ways to do things better, faster, cheaper.
So does that mean there's scope for new ideas after all? Sure, in a manner of speaking. We will never live in the same moment twice, so every idea is a product of its time. But at the crux of it:
"There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We give them a turn and they make new and curious combinations. We keep on turning and making new combinations indefinitely; but they are the same old pieces of colored glass that have been in use through all the ages." ― Mark Twain.
So there can be new ideas, sort of. But what we create is never a single person's original idea. Instead, we draw from our experiences, our influences (and influencers), and piece together parts to finish a jigsaw puzzle of an idea. Every "new" idea, in my humble opinion, is a version of Frankenstein's monster. And isn't that what Mark Twain says too? We combine lots of old ideas to create something new.
But that doesn't mean it's not original. It may not be "fully yours" or wholly "original" in the technical sense, but no one will ever approach that with your perspective, and that's why it's always worth doing the thing.
Now, let's not get unnecessarily sappy. Like we do in this newsletter, let's look at it objectively. Most of us aren't geniuses, so our "original" take on things will not be groundbreaking or anything remotely close to that.
But as humans, we thrive in the familiar, in the secure. It's evolutionary — knowledge means comfort means security means life. We like routines and knowing what's going to happen to us. This includes all those free-spirited wanders and everyone who claims to thrive in the unknown. Knowing it's the unknown is a kind of familiarity, too — you get used to the not-knowing enough that you know how to get through it.
Why do we like consuming the same things?
We continue to read books that are all overarchingly similar. There are characters, there's a plot, there's conflict, and there's a resolution. No matter what you sprinkle on top of that, the bare bones of a book almost always remain the same. But actually, as it turns out, it does matter what you do with that skeleton because you shape it to be your book. The vastness of languages and ever-evolving linguistics make it so that it's rare that someone will ever write the exact same book as you. Similar? Sure. After all, we pick up on written and speech patterns by imitating others. The most common piece of advice for writers is to read. Just like budding artists are encouraged to emulate the greats and understand how they created their artworks.
Those of us who read fanfiction love reading different versions of AUs (alternate universes) or different takes of the same AUs with our favourite couples. You won't believe the number of fanfics I've read that take place in colleges, at Hogwarts, or in space with the same characters over and over again because I like that familiarity. I like knowing the setting; I like knowing that the characters will fall in love/do the thing I expect them to, and I like knowing what's going to happen — that's why I picked this specific fanfic to read in the first place.
That's why, even with thousands of how-to guides out there already, we continue to make more. We want to share our perspectives and experiences and connect with those who have had the same. Your individual lived experience will never be the same as anyone before or after you — even if you have a twin or a clone.
As humans, we also like reimaging things a lot. We like to think that we could do it better, put our spin on it. Or we could do it in a way that appeals more to us, to our generation, to people like us. During my MA, I wrote a whole paper on retellings in literature. We've been adapting stories ever since we began telling stories — because that gives us the ability to create something new on the foundations of what we've loved.
Remember that everyone hasn't seen the first idea
Ever since the internet came into existence, it's become easier and easier to see if something's been done before. And it probably has whether the person who had the "new" idea first executed it well or not is another thing.
Given the amount of digital content I read and consume, sometimes I feel like I've read all the introductory, amateur-level articles on some topics. I tire of them quickly. But here's something I've noticed. When it comes to sharing links in my newsletter every week, I have to consciously take a step back to realize that not everyone reads the same things I do. Not everyone has come across five similar takes on a specific topic.
There will always be something we haven't seen or read, or done. That's why when someone does it in their way or shares a newer version, there's merit in that idea, in that unique execution.
So even though your idea may not be new or original, it's still worth working on. Some people may not know the first version that inspired your idea. Others may specifically need your vision of the idea. So many factors go into making an idea a successful reality, and you'd be hard-pressed to control every single one of them. All you can do is stop worrying about the originality or newness of your ideas and just get to work.
After all, If TikTok and Insta reel creators can all dance to the same track six hundred billion times and go viral, then you can adapt that idea in your head to make your own too.
PSA: Please don’t steal ideas or blatantly copy others — that’s absolutely not the point of this article. Give credit to your influences wherever you can.
Penny for your thoughts?
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Things I want to share this week! 💌
One blink, and there goes the year. If you're planning to do your thing (the one you've been meaning to all this while) next year for sure, then you'll like this article — five after-hours habits to help you build a tiny empire. This newsletter is my $20 habit, one I hope to get even better at next year. 💪🏽
Do you click pictures of your food? Or do you roll your eyes when someone you're eating with does it? Either way, food and social are a match that's here to stay. So here's a mini deep dive of sorts into our foodie generation. Read about how brands are mixing food and fun, how Gen Z is changing the food industry, and get a bunch of cool food things to follow. 🍲📸
Are you also on IMDB checking which were the best episodes of a show when you're on a rewatch? This site is the answer to your woes — it'll give you the best episodes of almost every TV series. 📺
Who doesn't want to work four hours a week and have (more than) enough to live? 🌊 I liked how this article pointed out that those who are able to work 4 hours a week often need to check their entitlement and privilege because they're only able to do that on the backs of others.
Need something quick, silly, and ridiculously cute to watch? Super Tuna is here. 🎣
As we get everyone's year-in-review1 and hear about things they did and accomplished this year, I hope you'll remember it's okay to do things at your own pace. ⏳ Here's a nice comic that will act as a reminder:
Don’t forget to heart the issue (right at the top or right under this) and share it with a friend. ❤️
See you next week!
I skipped last year’s recap because seriously, who wants to remember 2020 but I might consider dusting the old blog out for this year.