I Have TOO MANY Ideas (2024)

I Have TOO MANY Ideas (1)

One of the first project I ever embarked on was a comic book series about a superhero called Mr. A (the A is for Awesome), where he’d download super powers from the internet and install them to himself via a USB cable that plugged into his belly-button.

I must have been about eight years old when I created Mr. A, but little did I know that it was the start of a lifelong obsession with creating stories—that, and technology. Throughout my life, I’ve flitted between three core creative outlets: writing, music production and technology.

You’ve Got Raspberry Pi On Your Face

Whilst technology might not seem an obvious area of creativity—and, trust me, as a project manager who works in tech, sometimes it can feel like a creative drain—tech is the ultimate driver of creation.

You can build software, video games, mobile apps, utilize existing software to write books and create music. For my teenage-self, however, it was the Raspberry Pi. If you don’t know what this is, it’s a basically a tiny computer.

I Have TOO MANY Ideas (2)

Amongst all the things I made with the Raspberry Pi—a retro game emulator, a media centre, a home server—I was most proud of V.I.C or Very Intelligent Computer. (I was onto AI way before OpenAI!) V.I.C allowed you to have basic (pre-programmed) conversations, set alarms and play music.

Most interestingly, I attached a small LCD screen to the Pi to show the face of Holly from Red Dwarf. Then, utilising text-to-speech technology, whenever V.I.C spoke, Holly’s mouth would clumsily open and shut.

Speaking of tech, I also ran a website call “Funny Works” when I was in primary school, where I learned how to use embedded code to implement mini games.

Still unsure that technology is a creative outlet?

Writing: My Love

As I got older my interest in technological creation faded, especially after secondary school. I became much more interested in film, writing and music—the arts. In a way, I was embarrassed by my nerdy interest in the Raspberry Pi and it wasn’t something I wanted to showcase as I entered real-life.

Now, I don’t care. I’m an adult with a fiancée, a house and a baby on the way. I’m comfortable with myself and my curiosity and I want to explore every idea that comes my way. I also want to show my child the importance of creativity and give them the freedom to build no matter their interest.

Still, I mostly favour writing as my creative outlet. Not only is it free, requiring no pre-requisites to get started, it’s also the most rewarding creative endeavour. There is no feeling quite like pulling a coherent narrative together out of jumbled thoughts and mismatched notes. And then people read your work and literally enter your world!

What Am I Working On?

I could ramble on about the nature of creativity and my time with different mediums for pages—I haven’t even got to music yet—but this is supposed to be an introductory article. So, let’s move onto what I’m working on and discuss a little about why I’m here.

My two biggest focuses currently are my upcoming book, Keep Your Head: How to Survive as Henry VIII’s Wife, and a consumer-facing electronic device which I don’t want to go into detail about just yet.

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I will be talking about Keep Your Head and giving regular updates on its progress and availability, but I’m not here for promotion.

Why Am I Here?

I’m here because I need another outlet. I’m brimming with ideas and I want a place to discuss my thoughts—a place where I can take a break from the multiple projects I’m working on and write without pressure. So, these posts will probably be sporadic.

In particular, I was inspired by Adam Savage’s book Every Tool’s a Hammer to start this newsletter. He made me realise something profound: whilst for the last umpteen years I’ve considered myself a writer, that’s not true—I’m a creator.

Although I might prioritise my writing, I’m constantly coming up with ideas and creating across a variety of disciplines. For instance, I’ve recently started making my own jam and not so long ago I was whittling chess pieces; I’m also considering creating a mobile game.

This is my biggest weakness. I’ve got too many ideas, so I often veer off track from one project to another. Hopefully, writing about my projects here helps me stick with them.

If you’re interested in following my creative journey and maybe learning a thing or two, go ahead and subscribe. I’ll be posting personal blogs, creative debates, reviews, guides and explainers (probably all with spelling and grammatical errors—I don’t want to get bogged down by editing).

I Have TOO MANY Ideas (2024)

FAQs

What is it called when you have too many ideas? ›

Like many creatives and entrepreneurs, I suffer from an affliction – it's called 'Having-Too-Many-Ideas', also known as 'Idea-ism'. Symptoms of Too Many Ideas Syndrome include Crippling indecision. Procrastination. Frequent bouts of self-doubt punctuated with delusions of grandeur.

Why do I have too many ideas? ›

It's how you're wired. 'Too many ideas' are a symptom of the wild imagination that lets you invent new worlds, and see into characters' heads! So although it may frustrate you from time to time, do celebrate what's wonderful about this. And know you're not alone.

How to stay focused when you have too many ideas? ›

Here are six strategies for overcoming the Too Many Ideas Syndrome.
  1. It may sound cliche, but start with the less complicated. ...
  2. Write down everything. ...
  3. Don't spend too much time on the screen. ...
  4. Stop thinking of all the things you want to write. ...
  5. Avoid distractions. ...
  6. Push yourself beyond your comfort zone.
Aug 12, 2022

How do you describe someone with many ideas? ›

A person who has many ideas can be called a visionary, an innovator, or a creative thinker. They are often described as being imaginative, resourceful, and open-minded. These individuals have a knack for coming up with unique and original concepts, and they are constantly seeking new ways to improve and innovate.

How do I stop having ideas? ›

Write down every idea you have! When you get the ideas out of your head, your brain will naturally chill and stop bringing them up over and over in an attempt to make sure you don't forget them (this is why I'm a fan of writing EVERYTHING down, not just ideas).

How to get ideas out of your head? ›

You could pick a writing prompt (like an image, phrase or question) to get you going – or you can simply write in a stream-of-consciousness style about what's on your mind. Getting your fingers moving and your thoughts flowing onto the paper can make it much easier to start off on your “real” writing.

Do people with ADHD have lots of ideas? ›

ADHD and creative thinking

Take impulsivity, one of the main symptoms of ADHD. The studies suggest it might lead people to have more original ideas. That's because people with ADHD often lack inner inhibition. This means they have trouble holding back when they want to say or do something.

How do I stop running out of ideas? ›

When You Run Out of Ideas
  1. Look at my ideas list. I keep a list of ideas, and review it twice a month. ...
  2. Look for inspiration. I cast a net for ideas, looking at blog posts, news, sites like Hacker News or Pinterest, anyplace where people are doing interesting and fun things. ...
  3. I ask people. ...
  4. I observe. ...
  5. I look inside.

Why do some people have more ideas than others? ›

Our results suggest that creative people are better able to co-activate brain networks that usually work separately. Our findings indicate that the creative brain is “wired” differently and that creative people are better able to engage brain systems that don't typically work together.

Why am I not focused enough? ›

Sleep deprivation, stress, anxiety, and some medications may cause concentration issues. In some cases, an underlying health issue may be the cause. Being unable to concentrate may affect performance at work or school and how people are able to do everyday tasks.

Why can't I focus too many thoughts? ›

Focus on breathing

Take several deep, careful breaths and focus on counting while inhaling and exhaling. This can force your mind to focus on something other than your racing thoughts. It can also have a calming effect on your central nervous system. This can reduce anxiety.

What do you call a person who has many interests? ›

A multipotentialite is someone with many interests and creative pursuits. Although multipotentialite is a modern term, the idea of someone with many passions is not new. Any student of history often hears mention of polymaths or Renaissance people. Multipotentialites have, indeed, existed as long as human societies.

What is a word for being full of ideas? ›

full of ideas; inventive; imaginative synonym, full of ideas; inventive; imaginative definition | Thesaurus.

What is a classy word for creative? ›

Synonyms of creative
  • innovative.
  • inventive.
  • imaginative.
  • talented.
  • innovational.
  • gifted.
  • original.
  • ingenious.

What do you call someone with big ideas? ›

Idea people are creative problem solvers. They are the ones determining ways to fit square pegs into round holes. An “idea person” is actually considered to be a demonstrable skill set and is in growing demand by employers. In fact, each year employers are seeking more and more idea people to fill a creative void.

What is the word for having different ideas? ›

Open-minded is the word with the broadest meaning.

What do you call someone who is very imaginative? ›

Someone who is very imaginative and creative but not necessarily an artist or writer could be referred to as "innovative," "ingenious," or "visionary". These terms highlight the individual's ability to think outside the box and develop original ideas.

What is a word for full of ideas? ›

full of ideas; inventive; imaginative synonym, full of ideas; inventive; imaginative definition | Thesaurus.

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