“Be curious about the world in which you live. Look things up. Chase down every reference. Go deeper than anybody else--that's how you'll get ahead.”
Austin Kleon
Austin Kleon is a poet, artist, writer, philosopher — and someone who’s work I find interesting. A couple of weeks ago the 10th Anniversary edition of the modern classic “Steal Like an Artist" arrived at my doorstep.
I first discovered and read Steal Like an Artist in 2013. We were living in Mongolia and I started following a blog by this guy who did “Blackout Poetry” — this thing where you take a page of a newspaper and get rid of everything except the words you want to use. Reminiscent of Michelangelo’s philosophy:
“Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.”
This is a simple, yet compelling and creative way to write a poem, and I tended to follow stuff like this back in the day (and probably still do for the most part). When I saw he had a book out, as well (with one of the chapters being called “Creativity is Subtraction” I had to check it out. Living in Mongolia, the Amazon Kindle was a game changer. Getting books meant a quick download and a lot of dollars and days saved in shipping expenses.
The problem with the Kindle version of this book is that this book isn’t meant to be read in a digital format. Kleon is multi-talented so the book contains illustrated lists, black-out poetry, photos, and cartoons.
This week, I re-read my brand new, beautiful, hard-cover, analog edition (with the fancy book mark ribbon) with joy.
This is the way this book was meant to be read.
Here are three short quotes that sum up my takeaways from Steal Like an Artist. I really do encourage you to get a copy for yourself. You can read it in an hour. But it takes a lot longer than that to get this into your thinking and doing. Part of the reason I am doing this newsletter every week is because of advice from Austin Kleon.
“Your job is to collect good ideas. The more good ideas you collect, the more you can choose from to be influenced by.”
I’m currently prepping for a group team-training at a non-profit organization in which we are going to do a discovery of personality and strengths (Using StrengthsFinder 2.0). As I mentioned a few weeks ago, one of my top strengths is called “input”. This means I’m pretty good at finding, filing, and classifying disparate information. The idea here is that the cumulation of ideas gives opportunity for influence — and influences can be a chosen. Find what you like and emulate the best parts. Soon you’ll find your own unique, creative voice.
“Don't wait until you know who you are to get started.”
Knowledge without action is worthless. Maybe even worse than worthless. Creativity must carry with it a propensity for action. Creative work don’t happen in some kind of creative meta-verse where ideas take on form, flesh, and bone by magic. Creative works happens when a writer puts her butt in the chair and writes words; the sculptor begins chipping away at a block of stone; a painter puts a first slash of color on their canvas. Creativity carries action. Without action ideas die. And that’s tragic.
“You don’t want to look like your heroes, you want to see like your heroes.”
Emulation may be the greatest form of flattery. But I don’t want to write a book that’s exactly like Annie Dillard or Neil Gaiman. I do want to see the story potential with the eyes of Annie Dillard and Neil Gaiman. So I read them. I often write like them. And I do so in order to grow into being me. Even at my age.
Austin Kleon blogs everyday and continues to write and speak. I find his blog posts random, refreshing, and always creative.
I look forward to the 10th Anniversary edition of Show Your Work in 2024 to sit next to this. Who knows? Maybe next time I’ll get in on the signed version.
Thanks for subscribing! This is an every Sunday-ish newsletter containing bits and bobs of what I’m reading, writing, watching, thinking, and experimenting with this week. Every month I also send my complete notes from a book I’ve read, so you can decide if you want to read it too! Like the old version of Cliff’s Notes. But more Hobbit-like. Furry feetnotes.
Check out my personal website, as well. This is where I post my writing and photography.
I am a consultant, coach, and trainer with Growability® Consulting, specializing in non-profit and cross-cultural business and leadership. Check out the Growability® Podcast at all your favorite podcast places.