This probably should've been the first chapter I made, and I should've done this a long time ago for this. Coming to terms with this is honestly the hardest part I had in starting to write as a hobby, but then I remembered that I'm doing this for fun and not as a job. And this might be wrong, but the problem is being able to find an idea that doesn't feel like something else even at more than just the bare bones of the idea? I just want to say that, if originality is what's stopping you from writing, even as a hobby, then that's fine. Don't outright plagiarize, that's bad, but don't stress out over being 100% original because you'll never get anything done.
So many concepts that are commonplace in all genres come from somewhere else. Elves have existed throughout history in many forms from the smaller, more-Christmas elves to the tall, lithe and beautiful light and dark elves, and the second has dominated the modern fantasy scene, not that I'm complaining as half-elf is my preferred race for table-top rpgs. Warp drive is an important part of most space sci-fi and yet, while very similar, most find interesting and different ways to do it. Star Wars has it more like specific corridors to travel along, Star Trek is more like going the speed of light, and Warhammer 40K is basically opening a portal to hell to travel through from my understanding.
The problem with originality is not being 100% original, but rather taking what many consider an old tired idea and twisting it into something at least somewhat unique. Go through your favorite movie/book/game and compare it to similar games, strip them to their bare bones and look at how similar they are at their core. Hollow Knight is a zombie apocalypse brought on by a malevolent force, Dark Souls is a fantasy game where you are the chosen one who is to decide the fate of the land, etc. This part is more reassurance than anything so let me finish it here.
Go ahead and brainstorm. Come up with ideas and dive in headfirst to twist that tired idea into something else. Good luck and have fun
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