How to become CREATIVE
This book explains how to be creative and teach us 10 ways to become CREATIVE. Collect good ideas. Steal them. Let us explore “How to become CREATIVE” in Austin Kleon’s way.
“It’s not the book you start with, it’s the book that book leads you to.” -Austin Kleon
“You have to dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” – Austin Kleon
“If you copy from one author, it’s plagiarism. If you copy from many, it’s research.” – Wilson Mizner
Chapter 1: Steal Like An Artist:
The honest artist answers the question, “Where do you get your ideas from?” with “I steal them.”
You figure out what is worth stealing, then you move on to the next thing.
When you look at the world this way, you stop worrying about what is good or bad, but rather what is “worth stealing” and what is “not worth stealing”.
Nothing Is Original
When something is called “original”, 9 out of 10 times is simply because they don’t know the reference or the source.
All creative work builds on what came before.
Nothing is completely original.
Chapter 2: Don’t Wait Until You Know Who You Are To Get Started:
It’s the act of making things and doing our work that we figure out who we are.
You’re ready. Start making stuff.
Fake It Till You Make It
Pretend to be something you’re not until you are
Pretend to be making something until you actually make something.
Chapter 3: Write The Book You Want To Read:
The best advice is not to write what you know, but write what you like.
The same applies for your life. Whenever you’re at a loss for what move to make next, ask yourself, “What would make a better story?”
Think about your favorite work and your creative heroes. What did they miss? What didn’t they make? What could have been made better? If you were still alive, what would they be making today? If all your favorite makers got together and collaborated, what would they make with you leading?
Go make that stuff.
Chapter 4: Use Your Hands
You need to find a way to bring your body into your work.
The computer brings out the uptight perfectionist in us — we start editing ideas before we have them.
If you have space, set up 2 workstations: one digital, one analog. Keep out anything electronic in your analog workstation. Get out and do something- cook, run, play an instrument
.
Chapter 5: Side Projects And Hobbies Are Important
Austin thinks it’s good to have a lot of projects going at once so you can bounce between them.
If you have 2 or 3 passions in your life, don’t feel like you have to pick and choose. Keep all your passions in your life.
If you love different things, let them keep talking to each other. Something will happen.
It’s important to have a hobby.
A hobby is something creative just for you. You don’t try to make money or get famous.
You do it because it makes you happy.
A hobby is something that gives but doesn’t take.
Don’t throw any of yourself away. Don’t worry about a grand scheme or unified vision. One day, you’ll look back and it’ll all make sense. These activities can make you more creative and increase your productivity in the jobs that do bring you money.
Chapter 6: Do Good Work And Share It With People
Step 1: Do good work. Make stuff every day. There are no shortcuts. You will suck.
Step 2: Share it with people = put it on the Internet.
Chapter 7: Geography Is No Longer Our Master
Build Your Own World
Surround yourself with books and objects you love. Tape things on the wall. Create your own world. Find the communities you belong to.
Enjoy Captivity
All you need is a place to work and some time to do it — some self-imposed solitude and temporary captivity.
Leave Home
Your brain gets too comfortable in your everyday surroundings. You need to make it uncomfortable.
Spend some time in another land, among people that do things differently from you.
Travel makes the world look new, and when the world looks new, our brains work harder.
Chapter 8: Be Nice
Stop fighting and being so competitive. Appreciate the work of other people and make friends. There is something to be said for being kind.
Make Friends, Ignore Enemies
The golden rule is even more important in this hyperconnected world.
Stand Next To The Talent
You’re only going to be as good as the people you surround yourself with.
Chapter 9: Be Boring
Take Care Of Yourself
It takes a lot of energy to be creative. You don’t have that energy if you waste it on other stuff.
Eat breakfast. Do pushups. Go for long walks. Get plenty of sleep.
Stay Out Of Debt ,Learn about money as soon as you can.
It’s not the money you make, but the money you hold on to.
Keep Your Day Job
Freedom from financial stress means freedom in your art.
Figure out what time you can carve out, what time you can steal and stick to your routine.
Do the work every day, no matter what.
The trick is to find a day job that pays decently, doesn’t make you want to vomit, and leaves you with enough energy to make things in your spare time.
Get Yourself A Calendar
Chapter 10: Creativity Is Subtraction
It’s often what an artist chooses to leave out that makes the art interesting. The way to get over creative block is to simply place some constraints on yourself.
What makes humans interesting isn’t just what we’ve experienced, but also what we haven’t experienced. The way to get over creative block is to simply place some constraints on yourself. It seems contradictory, but when it comes to creative work, limitations mean freedom. Write a song on your lunch break. Paint a painting with only one color. Start a business without any start-up capital. Shoot a movie with your iPhone and a few of your friends. Build a machine out of spare parts. Don’t make excuses for not working—make things with the time, space, and materials you have, right now.
Know more about the book:
https://medium.com/@skueong/steal-like-an-artist-10-things-nobody-told-you-about-being-creative-book-notes-af8d8813fcab
https://www.amazon.com/steal-like-artist/s?k=steal+like+an+artist
