Paper Thinker

a person who more readily relates to the confined and definite words on paper than to the applications or even realities of the three dimensional plane. Although this usually describes a way of thinking, it can also describe someone who lacks original thought, or is afraid of new ideas.

Student 1: Did you hear what happened with Abby? She stole my idea for the term paper in Dr. James's class! Now I have to come up with something else, or he'll think I stole it from her!

Student 2: Abby is such a paper thinker.