Why let being unoriginal prevent you from writing? It’s fruitless trying to be original, because there is no such thing as an original idea. Everything under the Sun has already been done.
Welcome back to Write of Passage Weekly, where we help you discover what is obvious to you that would be amazing to others.
Last week, you learned that clear thinking comes from writing, so think with your hands. Today, we’re debunking the myth of originality.
Don’t Invent, Combine
How many times has “but someone’s already doing that” stopped you from doing what you want? Why let being unoriginal prevent you from writing? It’s fruitless trying to be original, because there is no such thing as an original idea. Everything under the Sun has already been done.
Creativity is not about having completely new ideas but about combining existing ideas. As Mark Twain said, it is impossible to have a new idea, and creativity is like putting old ideas “into a sort of mental kaleidoscope.”
Much like how a cloud forms from water vapor in the atmosphere, everything you need to create is already floating through the boundless expanse of your mind. The ideas shift, condense, and cast shadows of potential. They can be elusive and their inspiration can disappear like a raindrop into the ocean. While there is no such thing as a new idea, there can always be new combinations of ideas:
Henry Ford once said, “I invented nothing new. I simply assembled the discoveries of other men behind whom were centuries of work.”
Pop artists draw from other genres, like how Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro” opens with a violin sample from Vittorio Monti's “Csárdás.”
Or, as Pablo Picasso said, “good artists borrow, great artists steal.”
Just as vapor condenses to form clouds, creativity is about combining existing ideas in new ways. All ideas that could exist already do; let the fluidity of creativity take care of the rest.
Chamath Palihapitiya went from studying in his Harvard dorm room to becoming the (youngest-ever) Vice President of AOL, growing Facebook to 1 billion users, and launching his own venture, Social Capital. He’s been at the epicenter of Silicon Valley for 15 years. And he has a lot to say about it.
Chamath is bullish on writing and sharing his perspective on the Internet:
“The ability for smart, useful observations to get into the hands of people with fewer ideas but lots of capital, have never been better. You can build both a reputation and balance sheet this way.”
There’s a certain caliber of writing required to “make it” online. Chamath’s advice? Start punchy. Give a TL;DR. Be factual. End with something useful. Use different mediums for different moods (unhinged vents for Google Docs, analytical thoughts for pen and paper, and fiery takes for X, just to name a few). And no matter what, don’t lose the fervor that got you into writing in the first place.
This episode is all about the push and pull of online writing. Objectivity vs. subjectivity. Consuming vs. creating. Structure vs. spontaneity. Ultimately, you’ll learn how this iconic tech billionaire breathes life into his ideas — and how you can, too.
Elle Griffindreams of a future where you can work wherever you want — a future that may not be far away: “What kind of lives will the next generation have that we will never get to experience?”
Thank you for reading Write of PassageWeekly. This week, give yourself a break from being completely original (because it’s impossible), and give yourself permission to combine existing ideas in surprising, memorable ways.
Happy writing,
The Write of Passage Team
Write of Passage, 10900 Research Blvd, Ste 160C PMB 3016, Austin, TX 78759
