Book #17
Steal Like An Artist
By Austin Kleon
This book has been on my TBR list for a long time. I can’t believe how long it has taken me to get around to reading it considering it’s actually pretty short. It has a lot of wisdom in it, though. I wanted to devote this blog post to organizing the ways I have unknowingly followed and not followed Kleon’s creative advice with my blog.
Good Creative Choices
1. Write the Story You Want to Read
Don’t Dismiss Your Originality
Often in the world today, we put metrics ahead of passions. People tell you that you should write in a way that will engage others. But this just leads to creative people discounting their own ideas and ways of doing things.
Perhaps I am being naive and optimistic, but I think there is value in doing things your way. One thing about me and blogging is that I am so new to it, I just began to write. I have no idea what other people are looking to read, I just wrote for myself. This was creatively freeing.
I also think this is a hidden blessing of being unknown. No one expects anything of you. As Kleon said, you will have less creative freedom when others are involved in the creative process or are paying for your work. The beginning of a project is the perfect time to sample your freedom.
Creativity As a Process, Not a Destination
It was also important for me to write in such a way that it depicts a person’s journey.
So often I find that self-help books are written by people who have come out on the other side of an issue. I am really grateful for everyone who places their hard-won wisdom in the pages of a book, however I want a play-by-play of my own journey to show the ups and downs of my self-improvement process. This process is never linear or complete.
One example is forgiveness.
Often psychological or spiritual books will tell you it is good to forgive others (obviously). I know that in theory but I felt I was having a hard time jumping from where I was to the end of the rainbow.
And so when reading a book that showcases the full actualization of forgiveness it all of a sudden becomes theoretical, no longer practical and relatable to me. So showing the journey was important to me, not just the end result because forgiveness isn’t a straight line… neither is creativity, finances, relationships, success, etc… and I wanted to demonstrate that in my writing.
That way, if I were reading these posts, I would see that progress is possible little by little. Instead of shoving a topic like forgiveness down a reader’s throat, I wanted to deliver it in wandering baby steps, the way I experienced it; to meet readers where they are by first meeting myself where I currently am. I feel that is more natural and realistic.
I also wanted to normalize common and healthy emotions. We should be allowed to express anger and regret when the situation calls for it… and then move on from those feelings. Issues arise only when we get stuck in these negative emotions. But moving through a range of emotions in a natural progression is healthy and healing.
2. Practice Productive Procrastination
This year I am incredibly burnt-out but also underemployed. I need rest.
However, I don’t want this year to just be a write off. I want to use it productively.
That is how this year-long Reading Challenge was born. In any other year it wouldn’t be possible for me to devote so much time to reading and self-improvement. Work, school, or family obligations would get in the way. I want to enjoy the freedom that I have this year while also becoming a better version of myself because of it. That way I can make a blessing out of an unideal situation.
Also, an unforeseen benefit of this blog is that it is improving my life in other areas. My ideas are sharper, my communication is clearer, and I have greater confidence in myself. I also retain more from books when I write about them afterward.
This “procrastination” has been extremely productive.
3. Stick to a Routine
This blog has given a lot of structure to a year of my life that initially had very little. It forces me to create on a schedule. I have only been blogging for about 3 months and have written 45,000 words over 78 blog posts.
The amount that I would have written without this blog would be embarrassingly low. Seriously, my only writing would have been a little bit for work or applications for the things I plan to pursue next and text messages to friends. That’s it. And this blog has turned my writing into something more meaningful. It is like a written discussion with myself that I happen to share publicly.
This is similar with my reading. Would I read 52 books this year if I didn’t give myself this challenge? Probably not. It makes me feel like there is someone counting on me to create- even if the only person doing so is me.
4. Positive Distraction is a Good Thing
People seem to get themselves into trouble these days when they are bored. They log onto social media and get in fights with strangers, they watch endless news, they focus too much on the lives of other people, etc. It is good to keep the mind and body busy on something productive.
Every hour that I spend reading and blogging, I am not spending endlessly scrolling or judging someone else’s life. I am living my own and creating something that I am proud of. It is a very good distraction. Fighting is unproductive, creating is productive. And creativity is a much better distraction than Netflix or social media.
5. Don’t Be Bound By Geography
I am currently not geographically in a space that feeds my creativity.
I am pretty isolated and I avoid a lot of online spaces because they just aren’t my vibe these days. I’m actually surprised that I stumbled onto WordPress to begin with and at how caring and kind the community seems to be. Being on it has certainly fed my inspiration. Although one day I look forward to being in a more creative physical environment, I am now enjoying the digital environment that I have found myself in. That is good enough for now.
Bad Creative Choices
There were a few creative suggestions in Steal Like An Artist that could use a little improvement from me:
1. Create a List of Your Greatest Inspirations
When Kleon suggested to make a list of your greatest inspirations I just sat there. I made a feeble list on my phone’s Notes App that included names like: Legolas and Winston Churchill. I was like: what the heck? That is so pathetic and random.
I know I am inspired by people, why can’t I even name them?
It took about half an hour for me to come up with a list that I am still not happy with. And I am still questioning why these names are on my list. Eventually though, patterns began to emerge. I could sort my inspirations into categories such as the witty, ambitious feminine woman or the skilled orator. I like people who can communicate their thoughts well and through this blog I have realized that I have lost that ability somewhat.
2. Use Your Hands
I do appreciate that this blog is a log book. It is a digital chart of my intellectual travels. I am not quite half-way through this year-long journey, and when I look back at my early blog posts I can see how far I’ve come. That is all thanks to a decision to start this blog on a whim.
However, this creativity has so far been mostly digital. Sure I sketched a bit after I read Drawing For Illustration by Martin Salisbury. But I can do better than this. I want my creativity to not just be digital but physical as well.
The picture at the beginning of this blog post is Kleon’s book nestled amongst some of my art prints.
I made them digitally years ago and then printed them onto canvases. I hadn’t looked at my art prints in a long time. They had just been taking up space in my parent’s house. It was nice to see something tangible.
So maybe I will try to be a bit more determined with creating physical things. However, I need to acknowledge that the most meaningful real-life creations of this challenge are the improvements I feel in my life: improvements to my mood, sense of self, and relationships. Those certainly have not gone unnoticed by me.
Messy Bun Book Lover
(Originally posted on June 10, 2025)
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