I wouldn't worry so much about putting a new twist on a story; grade of execution truly matters. Half of Shakespeare's stories are historical fiction retelling well known events. But, you know, he was just better at storytelling. And it happens to me all the time when I'm watching sci-fi, where I think, "Wow, the concept was really good, but this is still [bad/meh/not great]."
I guess I've never really faced strong writer's block. I always have ideas, even if they're not for the right story. Every time I get an idea or plot thread or joke, I write it down in a story file. Jokes are important -- remember the idea for Dirty Pair was essentially based on a joke. And then it just becomes a battle for my attention: when do I have time to write, and if so what's going to get some love? I've got plenty of ideas, all the way down to that one complete rewrite of Kiddy Grade I have in a few notes on from 2013 (except episode 11, ep 11 is perfect as-is). Will it get my attention? Probably not. It's a question of what wants to be written so badly that it's pushing me to write. And barring that, text that links up those urgent sections together into a proper plot.
I guess I've never really faced strong writer's block. I always have ideas, even if they're not for the right story. Every time I get an idea or plot thread or joke, I write it down in a story file. Jokes are important -- remember the idea for Dirty Pair was essentially based on a joke. And then it just becomes a battle for my attention: when do I have time to write, and if so what's going to get some love? I've got plenty of ideas, all the way down to that one complete rewrite of Kiddy Grade I have in a few notes on from 2013 (except episode 11, ep 11 is perfect as-is). Will it get my attention? Probably not. It's a question of what wants to be written so badly that it's pushing me to write. And barring that, text that links up those urgent sections together into a proper plot.
"Kitto daijoubu da yo." - Sakura Kinomoto