I recently read an essay by Theo Nestor, describing how you need a nut graf in a personal essay. She offers a wonderful example of how this can be done, then advises writers to copy the format: “It is perfectly okay … The content will be very much your own.”
Similarly, in a recent essay for Glimmer Train, Zeynep Ozakat says:
Imitation is part of being a writer. Just like babies who learn to smile by imitating adults, we must have the humility to learn from the greats through mimicry.
She closes by quoting Picasso, “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” Read her entire essay.
For more insight from the latest Glimmer Train bulletin:
- Writing What You Don’t Know by Patrick Hicks
- Just Add Cowboy by Sean Bernard
- The Monster Scale by Daniel Torday
Jane Friedman has spent nearly 25 years working in the book publishing industry, with a focus on author education and trend reporting. She is the editor of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World in 2023. Her latest book is The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press), which received a starred review from Library Journal. In addition to serving on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund, she works with organizations such as The Authors Guild to bring transparency to the business of publishing.
[…] what? I continued reading IMITATION IS PART OF BEING A WRITER, by Jane Friedman. So intrigued, I clicked on the links she provided and kept right on reading. […]
Thanks for sharing, Jane!
I always find this subject very near and dear! (I truly hope this isn’t against the rules), but I actually did a fairly recent book review over on my blog for Austin Kleon’s great book: Steal Like an Artist, which touches on the same, fascinating topic. (Again, I hope it’s all right to put in a link, but here’s my review: http://heidi-n-peterson.blogspot.com/2015/02/book-review-steal-like-artist-10-things.html.) And if the link’s a problem, do feel free to delete my comment, Jane! 🙂
Not a problem at all, appreciate the share!