“Having too many ideas is like standing at a buffet with 47 plates and no hands. Put down 46 plates. Eat the one that’s getting cold.”
— L.A. Walton, The Book Maven
Your problem isn’t a lack of ideas. Your problem is a SURPLUS of ideas. And while that sounds like a champagne problem, it’s actually just as paralyzing as having no ideas at all—maybe more so, because at least with no ideas, you know the task is ‘find an idea.’ With too many ideas, the task is ‘choose one and commit,’ which apparently is the creative equivalent of asking someone to pick a favorite child.
The Idea Triage System
| Priority Level | Criteria | Action |
| A — Write This NOW | You think about it constantly. It won’t leave you alone. | Start immediately. This is the one. |
| B — Write This Next | Exciting but not urgent. Can wait 3–6 months. | Outline it. Park it. Come back later. |
| C — Write This Someday | Cool concept but no emotional urgency. | Add to idea file. Revisit quarterly. |
| D — Donate This Idea | It’s someone else’s project, not yours. | Let it go or give it to a creative friend. |
5 Filters to Help You Choose
- The Obsession Filter. Which idea keeps you up at night? That’s your subconscious voting.
- The ‘So What’ Filter. If you finish this project, does it change something? For you? For your audience?
- The Feasibility Filter. Can you realistically complete this in 3–6 months? If not, simplify it or shelve it.
- The Energy Filter. Which idea gives you energy when you think about working on it? Not just thinking about it—WORKING on it.
- The Legacy Filter. In 10 years, which project will you be proudest of? Do that one.
Your Move, Creative
Write all your ideas on separate sticky notes. Spread them out. Pick up only ONE. That’s your project for the next 90 days. Everything else goes in a drawer. One idea, fully committed, fully executed. Let’s go.
Stop letting your stories stay stuck.
