Narrow Down Your Learning Process To One Master
My Key Takeaway From Austin Kleon's Steal Like An Artist
When I started my writing journey, the biggest mistake I made was listening to every writing advice.
It didn't matter who was saying it, where it came from, whether it was experience-backed, or if the writer wrote in the same genre I wanted. I took advice from blogs, videos, books, experts and wannabes.
I took in everyone's advice and ended up doing nothing.
It looked too daunting and overwhelming to even think about writing a novel, let alone start one.
It felt like a mammoth task that I couldn't even get started.
It took me years to learn that that doesn't need to be the case.
I can start writing my novel, slowly inching towards typing the two most glorious words in a writer's dictionary - The End.
And yes, I need to learn how to go about the process, but I don't need to listen to everyone. To begin with, I just need one teacher.
Later, when I read Austin Kleon's Steal Like An Artist, I got the confirmation I was on the right thought path.
As he said in sub-chapter, Climb Your Own Family Tree, of Chapter One - Steal Like An Artist -
If you try to devour the history of your discipline all at once, you'll choke.
And I was definitely choking.
Instead, the author suggests, pick one person - one master of your craft you love - and deep study them.
Study everything you can about this one master. Once you are done, you can find three people your master loved and research about them until you climb up your creative family tree.
Understanding the whole craft will be overwhelming and directionless, whereas learning a master's work will have direction and be manageable.
Since I have always dreamt of becoming a mystery-whodunit writer, I am doing a deep study of my favourite author, Agatha Christie.
I am already done with her four novels, and I am seeing the patterns Agatha Christie has in her storytelling. I am already learning from her.
So, this advice works.
If you are trying your hand in any creative field out there, and are feeling overwhelmed looking at the steep learning curve, follow Austin Kleon's advice.
Pick one master of your craft.
Make sure it's someone you love; otherwise, you won't enjoy the process.
Once you find this master, study the heck out of their work.
(I will highly recommend reading Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon.)
