Steal Like an Artist
I say it’s better to burn slow and see your grandkids.
Austin Kleon • Steal Like an Artist
Copy your favorite passages out of books.
Austin Kleon • Steal Like an Artist
Bradford Cox, a member of the band Deerhunter, says that when he was a kid he didn’t have the Internet, so he had to wait until the official release day to hear his favorite band’s new album. He had a game he would play: He would sit down and record a “fake” version of what he wanted the new album to sound like.
Austin Kleon • Steal Like an Artist
“Son, it’s not the money you make, it’s the money you hold on to.”
Austin Kleon • Steal Like an Artist
Figure out what time you can carve out, what time you can steal, and stick to your routine. Do the work every day, no matter what.
Austin Kleon • Steal Like an Artist
“Find the most talented person in the room, and if it’s not you, go
Austin Kleon • Steal Like an Artist
Pretend to be something you’re not until you are—fake it until you’re successful, until everybody sees you the way you want them to; or 2. Pretend to be making something until you actually make something.
Austin Kleon • Steal Like an Artist
Step 1: Wonder at something. Step 2: Invite others to wonder with you. You should wonder at the things nobody else is wondering about. If everybody’s wondering about apples, go wonder about oranges.
Austin Kleon • Steal Like an Artist
Write the kind of story you like best—write the story you want to read.