Creativity Art Self-Help

Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative (Summary)

by Austin Kleon

Every new idea is just a mashup or a remix of one or more previous ideas. The Beatles started as a cover band. George Lucas built Star Wars from a mix of old Westerns, Flash Gordon serials, and samurai films. Bob Dylan, when asked about his songwriting, said, "You're just a link in a chain." The myth of the lone genius is a lie; great artists don't conjure things from nothing, they steal.

Nothing Is Original

All creative work builds on what came before. Instead of being burdened by the need to be completely original, embrace your influences and see yourself as part of a creative lineage.

Kleon urges you to create a 'family tree' of your influences. If you love the work of a particular filmmaker, don't just study their films—study the three filmmakers they loved. This process of tracing your creative DNA back through generations reveals that all art is interconnected.

Fake It 'Til You Make It

You don't have to know who you are to get started. Start by copying your heroes—not plagiarizing, but imitating their process and style to learn how they work. In the act of emulating them, you'll eventually find your own voice.

A painter might try to reproduce a Van Gogh from scratch, not to sell it, but to understand his brushstrokes and use of color. A musician learns to play by mastering the songs of their idols. It’s through this hands-on imitation that you move from copying to creating.

Share Your Work

Don't wait until your work is perfect. Sharing your process—sketches, drafts, influences—connects you with an audience and opens you up to feedback and opportunities. The internet allows you to share a little bit of your work every day.

A writer can post a single interesting paragraph from their daily writing session on a blog or Twitter. This isn't the finished book, but it builds a following, keeps them accountable, and turns the solitary act of creating into something communal.

Creativity Loves Constraints

A blank page can be paralyzing. Imposing limitations on yourself—like a tight deadline, a limited color palette, or a specific set of tools—forces you to be more inventive and resourceful within those boundaries.

Dr. Seuss wrote 'The Cat in the Hat' using only 236 distinct, simple words provided on a list for early readers. This severe limitation forced him to be incredibly creative with rhythm and storytelling, resulting in a timeless classic.

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