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 her entire career working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry professionals; in 2023, she was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.
Jane’s expertise regularly features in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Today Show, Wired, The Guardian, Fox News, and BBC. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (The University of Chicago Press), is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. She reaches thousands through speaking engagements and workshops at diverse venues worldwide, including NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute, Frankfurt Book Fair, and numerous MFA programs.
[…] 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!