Daily Writing #27: Imitate, Then Innovate
There is a secret every professional artist knows that the amateurs don’t: being original is overrated. The most creative minds in the world are not especially creative; they’re just better at rearrangement. In order to do that, they have to be familiar with their influences. They have to study before they steal. Yes, before you become an artist, y
... See moreJeff Goins • Real Artists Don't Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age
Tactic 1: Copy, Then Create
Scott Young • Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career
The way you establish your authority in a certain field is by mastering the techniques of those who are already authorities. And what eventually emerges over time is your own style.
Jeff Goins • Real Artists Don't Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age
To use the “Franklin approach,” find writing you admire. Take a paragraph and jot a word or two down to remind yourself of the key ideas of each sentence. Then use those key words as hints to see if you can re-create the sentence. Check your sentence against the original and see which one is better. Does the original have better vocabulary? Better
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