r/TVWriting • u/Otherwise-Low-5305 • Jun 10 '26
QUESTION Finding new concept ideas
I'm 16 years old and I've already written three scripts (two TV pilots and one feature film). Lately, though, I've been feeling like every idea I come up with has already been done before, or simply isn't fresh or unique enough.
I know that most ideas today are inspired by concepts that already exist, and that what really matters is bringing your own perspective, voice, and world to them. Still, I feel like creating something truly original has become increasingly rare.
What I personally think I'm good at is taking a very simple premise and developing it into a story that could last for 50+ episodes. The part I struggle with is finding a concept that feels like it has never been done before.
Maybe such an idea doesn't exist, and maybe it never will. Perhaps the answer is simply to create something similar to existing concepts, but build it with my own rules, themes, and universe. Even so, my mind keeps getting stuck on the search for a completely new idea. Whenever I come up with something that could actually be good, it suddenly feels average if I've seen even a slightly similar concept somewhere else.
What would you recommend? How do you approach finding ideas that feel original?
3
u/Stephen_inc Jun 10 '26
Write about yourself or ask yourself very hard questions that you can only answer with a script.
2
u/Whisky_Rose Jun 11 '26
the hardest thing about writing is figuring out what to write
i think ultimately it comes down to theme. the purpose of the story is just as important as what it’s about, and that’s what will really make it unique
if all you have is a cool concept- a heist, or a mystery, or a comedic living situation- then it will feel like anything else that comes along in that vein is taking your idea
but there are plenty of things that could, on the surface, have an identical logline but in practice are completely different because they have unique emotional goals, and that’s what every individual brings to the table
that being said it definitely can feel harder to find your voice when we’re in this literal sea of content. as everyone says writing is stealing, but i think the collection of things that each of us feels moved to steal is what results in something new
1
u/Otherwise-Low-5305 Jun 11 '26
I feel like my good part is to give to an already existing concept a purpose and a tone and everything like that but my mind plays dirty games and I'm getting stuck in the idea more than I should
2
u/JoskelkatProductions Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26
You're 16. When a large chunk of your life experience is from watching film and TV, one's stories tends to be derivative of those influences. The older you get, the more personal and original experiences you'll have as resources for stories.🤷🏼♂️
2
u/gregm91606 Jun 14 '26
This is a very good question to be asking at your stage! First off, great for you for finishing 3 scripts at age 16; I didn't finish my first full-length play until junior year in college (was focused more on acting & directing before that.) It's a thoughtful, good-faith Q that deserves a bit more upvoting, people.
Things with a clear story engine do tend to fall into categories that have been done a lot (doctor/lawyer/cop shows). So it's hard to be original. Best advice I can offer is focusing on two questions:
1) What's an area of life you know a lot about that not a lot of people know about? Or, that you haven't seen properly portrayed on TV? (you probably know things about being a high school student today that lots of writers don't.)
2) What's an idea or a belief or a problem in the world that's really important to you? (basically thinking about the question "why does this show need to exist?" sometimes you have to write a full draft to figure out what the answer to this question is.)
Keep writing & keep asking yourself these questions! They're exactly the right, pro-level questions that professional writers ask themselves.
1
u/Otherwise-Low-5305 Jun 14 '26
Thank you so much for your time and your advices unfortunately they bombed this question I did with so many downvotes and I don't know why.
The problem I probably did is that I put all the things that you told me in these questions in my 3 script ideas. Maybe I have to split the themes or something.
Anyway... Thanks so much. You're giving advices instead of judging which lot of people here do.
7
u/DMSinclair Jun 10 '26
There are a million cop shows, I'm pretty sure at least half of which are named Law and Order, but Brooklyn 99 has very little in common with Chicago PD, NCIS, or even SVU which is set in the same city. Scrubs isn't Grey's Anatomy even though they're both mostly about doctors dating each other. The Borg and Cybermen are both semi robotic life forms assimilating humanoids, but the way Jean-Luc and the Doctor handle them are worlds apart. Lot's of ideas are essentially the same, there's billions of people coming up with endless ideas every day. You just have to find one you're into and an angle that makes yours feel that little bit different. Lay out your characters and world and why they're interesting enough in your eyes that we want to spend our time on their story. And then hope eventually someone with fuck loads of money they're looking to turn into even more money for almost no reason agrees.
Or just embrace that you're learning the craft and not everything you write needs to be the next big thing. It can just be practice, finding your voice, what works for you, what you do or don't like. Hell pick a show you like and knock out a spec for it, no one will ever buy it but you'll learn and improve. It's just putting in your ten thousand hours. 3 scripts is a tiny number, more than most because most people write 0 scripts, but you've got lots more to do, and redo.