Stealing from Steal Like an Artist

In Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon quotes Mark Twain as follows: “It is better to take what does not belong to you than to let it lie around neglected.”

In his argument to steal like an artist, Kleon claims this applies not just to art but extends to all walks of life. I recommend his book.

With my background as a student and then as a professor, I was almost afraid to be too influenced by other writers for fear of plagiarism, much less to borrow or steal.
The one time I dangled my toes into these waters was with my novel Joy After Noon. I’ve always been a fan of Daphne du Maurier, and her novel Rebecca captivated me as a teenager.

When I was working on Joy After Noon, I attended a writers’ conference at Mt. Hermon. In my small group, I admitted to being inspired by Rebecca, although I structured my novel more as a family saga and less as a mysterious gothic thriller.

My group leader Kathy said, “You should map out exactly how du Maurier structured her novel, chapter by chapter, and do the same.”

I ignored the advice. I wanted the novel to be mine, not an imitation. I see now how sound her advice was and how foolish I was to ignore it. I like my novel, but it could have been more powerful or, certainly, different.

Long ago, when I told my mother I wanted to write, she said, “Shakespeare has pretty much exhausted all the good plots already.”

We read in Ecclesiastes 1:9: “There is nothing new under the sun.”

Kleon also quotes Yohji Yamamoto, who wrote: “Start copying what you love. Copy copy copy copy. At the end of the copy, you will find yourself.”

According to Kleon, the purpose should not be superficial, but to learn how the artist thought. He also advises, “… always have paper on you.”

I failed this test today as I sat by the pool reading Steal Like an Artist and these thoughts swirled in my brain.

I do carry a small pad and pen in my handbag, but I’ve chosen too small for fear of overloading my already heavy handbag. Besides, like today, I often do not have my handbag with me.

A lot of thoughts come to me when I’m in a pool or the lake or sea. When I return to my lounge chair, I’m wet and, even if I brought a notebook, I dread soaking the pages. I need a plan for a notebook in some sort of baggie for the future.

How many books and characters over the years have been called modern-day Tom Sawyers or Huck Finns? I’ve read (partially in his own writings) that, toward the end of his life, Mark Twain lost much of his faith and died a bitter man.

I hope he knows how beloved and emulated his earlier works still are.

Even if I can’t produce something better than the writers I love, surely I can copy, learn, and find my own voice.

https://www.amazon.com/After-Noon-Sugar-Sands-Book-ebook/dp/B07P7S5Y7Z (limited time sale for e-book $1.99, ends July 6)