Published on July 10th, 2014 | by Guest

Awesome Creativity Lessons From Austin Kleon

Many people want to write or desire to work as a writer. But, unfortunately, not everyone has given the chance to be as successful like JK Rowling, Stephen King, Ernest Hemingway, George R.R. Martin, etc. We know plenty of famous and brilliant writers in the history and we’re also familiar with their masterpieces. Sometimes we even used and apply their words of wisdom in our own craft.

We’ve heard and read tons of best writing advice from notable authors to inspire us to write. But instead of using the well-known quotes from the great writers of all time, let us seek insights about creativity and innovation from a man named Austin Kleon. He is a New York Times bestselling author of three illustrated books: Steal Like An Artist, Show Your Work!, and Newspaper Blackout.

Let’s tap into our creativity and get a healthy dose of encouragement and truth that we can apply into our craft.

“Creative people need time to just sit around and do nothing.”

– Yes, you read it right- just sit around and do nothing. Some writers get the newest and best ideas when they are bored. If you’re too fed up with your work, get up and take a walk. Don’t force yourself to write, instead take a time to relax and free your mind from stress. Sometimes, creativity strikes when you less expect it.

“If you copy from one author, it’s plagiarism, but if you copy from many, it’s research.”

– Such a very brilliant idea, isn’t it? Plagiarism is a crime but many people still do it. A creative person doesn’t know how to plagiarized but he knows how to do research. Copying from one source is a doing of a lazy man but copying from different sources is another thing. Do not be a plagiarizer but become a good researcher.

“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.”

– Curiosity may kill the cat but satisfaction can brought it back. As a writer, do not be afraid to take risks in your writing. Do not be a “scaredy cat” but instead be bold and practice exploring and discovering more about your craft.

“The best advice is not to write what you know, it’s to write what you like. Write the kind of story you like best—write the story you want to read. The same principle applies to your life and your career.”

– The manifesto of this is very simple- Do not just write according to what other people wants or what’s popular to readers rather write what you think is interesting and appealing to you. Create the art you like according to your taste and passion. A good writing with strong interest and passion backed up with research actually leads to a better result.

“Read deeply. Stay open. Continue to wonder.”

– Keep wondering and you’ll see where it will bring you. It may lead you to a world full of amazing and fresh ideas. Read deeply and a lot, don’t just simply read because books will give you knowledge more than anyone can fathom.
Author Bio:
Gemma Gaten is a creative writer at Bestessay.com. She loves to write, blog, read books and travel in different places. You can follow her on twitter.

Tags: Austin Kleon, awesome, blogging, creative, creativity, lessons