Why Ideas Don't Matter

Christina Allen
8 hours ago
3 min read

By Callie Stoker

A few years ago, I attended a local writers’ conference featuring a panel of successful authors. Howard Tayler—creator of the award-winning webcomic Schlock Mercenary and co-host of the podcast Writing Excuses—warned the audience, with a mix of seriousness and humor, that during the Q&A session he didn’t want any questions about where his ideas came from.

Of course, I had to take the bait.

As soon as they opened the floor for questions, I raised my hand and asked, “So, Howard, where do you get your ideas?”

The room erupted in laughter, and Howard was a good sport—he understood my cheeky nerve as only a true comedian could. The Q&A continued with plenty of great advice, but Howard’s attitude toward ideas stuck with me. I’ve thought about it often, and I see two main takeaways. First, he’s probably tired of that question, and I don’t blame him for having no new answers left to give. But second, and perhaps more telling, is that maybe the answer doesn’t matter.

Howard often says that for creators, ideas are rarely the problem. Ideas rain down on us faster than we can catch and shape them into something tangible. So if ideas aren’t the real issue, what is?

I once came across the best definition of talent I’ve ever heard: it’s when the vision of what you want to create and your ability to create it come into alignment. The closer those two things are—the ideal and the finished product—the greater your level of talent. If you accept this definition, talent isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you build through learning and practice. It comes from honing your craft and steadily moving the needle from beginner to expert. Talent takes time, focus, work, and passion.

If ideas don’t matter—or at least, if worrying over them, obsessing about finding a new one, or being overly protective of the one you have isn’t where your energy is best spent—then what does matter? The ability to harness those ideas, to stretch and shape them into something real: a story, a product, a creation. The good (and maybe painful) news is that if ideas don’t really matter, what does is our own hard work.

That work begins with focus—learning the skills and tools that make stories resonate so we can apply them in our own storytelling.

Keep reading books you love with an investigative eye, asking, “Why did that make me feel excitement, sorrow, or anticipation?” Keep attending your chapter meetings and writing conferences. Best of all, keep writing. Write any old idea, knowing that as you build your skills, you’ll one day be able to say with confidence: it wasn’t the idea that mattered—it was all the work I put into making it shine.

Callie Stoker is an editor with almost two decades experience. Her business The Manuscript Dr offers coaching and editing services. We believe that writing is a skill that can be taught through the application of individual tools. We love helping our clients elevate their abilities and reach their publishing goals. Callie has three children on the Autism Spectrum and ADHD and is a champion for neurodiverse representation. She was a guest on Brandon Sanderson’s podcast Writing Excuses and is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association, League of Utah Writers, and DFW Writers Workshop. She currently resides in the Dallas, TX area.