The most challenging part about YouTubing where I keep getting stuck again and again is choosing the next video idea. Once a video idea is decided upon, writing the script, shooting, and editing all flow in a straightforward fashion.
The kicker is that my ideas page is not blank. I have written quite a long list of video ideas. The problem is that I don’t feel like making any of those videos right now. There have been times when one of my old ideas became my next video, but it hasn’t happened often. Something that felt like a good idea at the time often fizzles out and I lose interest.
There have been a couple of tips that helped:
- Document, don’t create.
- Share what you love.
This post is born from the first advice. Document your journey instead of “creating”. There’s a limit to how much that helps because if you’re constantly stuck with ideas then there’s not much to document. Sharing what you love is a good tip because as you consume content you can share it right back.
In terms of creativity, I’ve heard two conflicting pieces of advice:
- Consume a lot of content to find out what to talk about next
- Consume less content and focus more on introspection
Both points seem to be valid. Consuming content can give you that next idea while consuming no content can allow things in your mind to bubble up. I guess it’s about finding a healthy balance of content consumption.
If I ever crack the code of never being stuck with choosing the next video idea, I’ll share it in a future post. For now, it seems like this is going to be a continual struggle for the time being.