Ask Austin Kleon - Thursday, March 13th! discussion

Welcome to the group! Austin will be answering questions throughout the day on Thursday, March 13th in this thread only. In the meantime if you have a question for the author or just want to introduce yourself feel free to do so in this thread.

Hi Austin, I have read your earlier book" Steal like an artist" and it was a heaven send in every way. Thanks for such a wonderful book. Now I am reading the current one " Show your work!" Its a great one too.

The one question which does bother me and worldwide is the question of copyright of your images and personal creative theft. You have suggested that we should share our daily thoughts and ideas of the work we are doing on a regular basis. But doesn't it also mean that we are risking our work to plagiarism, copyright issues and others stealing your work and making the as their own work? How do we deal with these issues without having to resort to possible lawsuits and court cases?

Hi Austin,
I’d like to introduce myself and thank you for your books. my name is Lihi, I am a poet, a creativity enthusiast, a painter, and teacher of all of the above.
I was inspired by “stealing like an artist”. This is one of the important messages I try to pass on to my students: Shattering the whole “originality” issue, that people are too concerned about. It’s wonderful to have your book and TED Talk to back me up.
Now, knowing your unconventional way of thinking, I was very happy to find your new book, “Show your work”. I thank you for it.
I have recently published my poetry in two short books, and constantly promoting them in any way I can find. I found unique advice in your book, very
different from the advice I find in most How-to books and blogs about promoting one’s work.
I reviewed “Show your work” in detail, and you can read the whole review on Goodreads or Amazon: Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered
If you like reading poetry, and would be interested in reading mine, then I’d be interested in your feedback. My books are very short: The two of them together include 8 short poems. If you’d like to read, just drop a short line, and I’ll send you free copies ;o)
Please keep my secrets very safe
Now the real you is here

I wish you great success and fun with your work!
Lihi

Hi Austin!

I'm Biena and I reside in the Philippines. I've always been an insecure person. I always think that I need to do something really good that other would affirm before I commend myself. I know that that isn't a healthy attitude but I just kept on doing so. Have you ever had issues like me as well? If ever, how did you overcome these predicaments?

Hello!
My name is Jessica and I love your book Steal Like an Artist. I use it for inspiration and to show my students for (hopefully) inspiration also.

How do you stay motivated? I find myself frequently getting too down on myself and completely lack motivation.

Thank you.

Hello my name is Isabel I loved your book and steals an artist, I really had to stop and think what I read in every page and process it in my mind till write the reviews I had and emphasize on every sentence I read and I looked fabulous, I followed several of Your Advice. Ofcourse helped me to motivate a Heap, and my ideas and creativity, although I am the only one not excited by them never fails to make me happy, so no pressure. Thanks a greeting ...

your book " Steal like an Artist " is artistic
thank you :)

Hi Austin, I'm excited you'll be visiting a city near me! I'm looking forward to meeting you in person. The first is a minor question but since I already ordered a pre-signed copy of "Show Your Work!", will you sign my copy of "Steal Like an Artist"? I loved this book and can't wait for the new one to arrive.

Are you working on anything new? Do you think you'll publish another book on a similar subject to go with the themes of your last two?

What has been your favorite and least favorite part of the process for this book? Would you say it was easier or more difficult than "Steal Like an Artist"? I've always been interested in publishing one day so anything you could say about the process of it from the first idea of the book, editing, through the publication and marketing stages would be appreciated.

Thanks! :)

Hi Austin,

I'm Alyson. I live in your current hometown, Austin, TX, and was excited to get my signed copy of Show Your Work! at Book People. I love Steal Like an Artist. My favorite quote from that book is, “Don’t throw any of yourself away.” Those six words have greatly encouraged me and helped me realize it’s okay to have many interests—so thank you. In Show Your Work!, a great companion piece, you seem to expand on this idea by talking about the amateur spirit—being a lifelong learner, trying new things, and sharing your cabinet of curiosities, or the people and things that inspire your work.

As I have an insatiable appetite for learning, I really resonate with this amateur philosophy of working. I also identify with your self-described dual role as “a writer who draws.” I’ve always loved both fiction writing and graphic design, and for years I struggled with an inner tug-of-war between these two passions before finally accepting that neither was going to back down.

Do you ever experience a tug-of-war between your passions of writing and drawing? How do you get these two sides of yourself to collaborate?

Thanks for your time!

Hi Austin,

I read "steal like an artist" and definitely changed my perspective about inspiration and the working process, I think it should be required reading in schools, to increase the confidence of young creatives.

I have not read your new book yet, so meaby this question have an answer in your book or maybe it's pretty obvious.

I am currently developing a comic strip, in fact is a journal of my family life, but I feel anxious to upload it to facebook or any personal blog to start promoting my work, but I have not registered the characters or the idea. you consider dangerous to share the work this way, without having registered the ideas first?

Thank you very much!

Jessica wrote: "Hello!
My name is Jessica and I love your book Steal Like an Artist. I use it for inspiration and to show my students for (hopefully) inspiration also.

How do you stay motivated? I find myself fr..."

I would like to back that question. I often struggle myself to share my work because almost always i can see your work or other sketchnoters (im trying my skills as one) as waay more superior. Rationally i know i shoudlnt compare myslef to others, but i still cant get those emotions out of the way.

How would you advise to start sharing with having such big obstacle to sharing? Most of the times when i share there is little to no response. I know that it takes time, but honestly knowing i have to wait year or more for any effect gets me discouraged. I know about patience is virtue and so on, but still thst doesnt help for getting more motivated. Im close to resigning on creating at all. I even stopped having pleasure from the process of creating itself :/

please tell me how to gain confidence ? :O

I laughed out loud and kept sharing the ideas in Steal like an Artist.
I will be getting your new book soon. Looking forward to the talk. No questions, just curious. I am in Denmark, lots of artistic types here and I am one of them.

Hi Austin
In a world where we are all connected and visible (internet, readings, and even this chat) how do you balance personal privacy and being open to paparazzi? In college I had a professor who repeated his mantra about "let the work speak for itself." A theory perhaps opposite to your new book. We grow and change others in sharing- yes you are right. Could you also address how to deal with harsh criticism and negative reviews? Thank you. Love your writing! Caroline

Hi Austin,
"Steal like an artist" was amazing, and extremely inspirational to me. A fresh view of the creativity process. I´ve identified some of my practices in your book and was able to put a name on them... and feel less guilty! :)
I´ve just finished reading "Share your work" and loved it too. Please keep on publishing such good books!

I live in Buenos Aires and I want to share you book with everyone I care! Are you planning on publishing an Spanish version? (digital or paperback)

I´m an artist, and the effect that your books cause on me is to push me to create more and more! Thanks for that! So... feel free to steal from me anytime you want (you have my preferred green card) ;)

Esteban Etcheverry
Artist

Hi Austin

Have just finished reading 'Show Your Work' and it's given me much to think about.
It's biggest victory is, in it you delineate things I instinctively already know but you add the 'why' and the 'how' which makes ALL the difference. I could boil the themes down to 'Ya gotta give action to get action.' and 'Don't be a dick on the internet.'

My question is this: How can I share writing work in progress without giving away my surprises? Some elements rely on surprising the reader and that's hard to do when you conferred with followers to hone the details.

Thank you

Ando san

Hey everybody! Excited to answer your questions. Let's do this.

Really love your books! They've given me a lot to think about. Could you suggest any further reading on art and the creative process?

Shantala wrote: "You have suggested that we should share our daily thoughts and ideas of the work we are doing on a regular basis. But doesn't it also mean that we are risking our work to plagiarism, copyright issues and others stealing your work and making the as their own work?"

As Tim O'Reilly put it, “The problem for most artists isn't piracy, it's obscurity."

Your problem when you're starting out isn't people stealing your ideas, it's not having your ideas out there in the first place.

Sure, artists get ripped off all the time, but it's just part of having your work out in the world.

Imagine an alternate scenario: you do good work or you have a great idea, but you sit on it because you're worried about someone stealing it, and then in the meantime, somebody has the same idea, puts it out there, and gains all the credit for it.

I find it interesting to look at the similar issue of piracy — what's worse: having your work pirated or not having it out there at all? (As Seth Godin says: “Piracy? You Wish”)

But really, the best quote I know on the subject is from Howard Aiken:

Don't worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you'll have to ram them down people's throats.

Biena wrote: "I've always been an insecure person. I always think that I need to do something really good that other would affirm before I commend myself. I know that that isn't a healthy attitude but I just kept on doing so. Have you ever had issues like me as well? If ever, how did you overcome these predicaments? "

Are you kidding? I'm as insecure as anybody!

Alain de Botton recently wrote something like, work gets done when the pain of not doing it exceeds the pain of actually doing it.

And that's totally true for me: it seems to me it would be more painful for me to NOT put my work out into the world than to take the chance of putting it out there.

And really, we all have very little to lose, honestly. We're all headed to the same place, you know? Might as well use your time while you're here! Go for it!

Also: read Lynda Barry's essay “Two Questions” in her fabulous book WHAT IT IS

Hi Austin, As a full-time writer (freelance copywriter by day, wannabe fiction writer by night), I too was liberated by the advice you give in "Steal Like an Artist." When did you know that your random thoughts and observations about creativity were potentially book material, that your "best practices" would serve the larger artistic community? And what was the process that followed? Was your concept fully realized by the time you approached the publisher?

Looking forward to reading your next one.

I'm about to publish my first ebook of fiction 'About A Gimp' but am a total noob at online connecting with interesting people. I have a blog in place, about to launch a website, on loads of social platforms etc. but it's so instinctive to write posts & comments in 'self promotion mode' instead of just 'hanging and being real'. It's almost makin me self-loathe.

Any tips on initiating conversations online?


Ando san

Jessica wrote: "How do you stay motivated?"

I read the obituaries every morning. Reading about people who did something with their lives and are now dead makes me want to get up and do something with mine!

Monica wrote: "Are you working on anything new? Do you think you'll publish another book on a similar subject to go with the themes of your last two?"

I'm in full promotion mode for this book — I'm going on a big 20-city tour, doing lots of interviews, and stuff like this Q&A — so I basically have zero chance to work, which is killing me.

I think these two books compliment each other pretty perfectly. Honestly, I'm not sure how much left I have to say. I'm really tired of writing about making art and I'm ready to actually go back to making art myself. So whatever I do next, I hope it's something new and exciting for me and for my readers.

Monica wrote: "What has been your favorite and least favorite part of the process for this book?"

Writing a book is a lot like the lifeline of any piece of work: it's super exciting in the beginning when you have the idea, and you're filling notebooks and it could be anything, and then it's really painful when you're actually executing the idea, and shaping it, and actually bringing it into the world. And then it's fun again when it's out in the world and you can see how people react to it! But it's all part of one long process.

This graphic from Steal Like an Artist shows it well, I think:

Alyson wrote: "Do you ever experience a tug-of-war between your passions of writing and drawing? How do you get these two sides of yourself to collaborate?"

Yeah! All the time! When I'm writing a book, for example, it's hard to find the time to draw and vice versa.

The best advice I got on the subject you already mentioned, but I want to point to it again: Steven Tomlinson's amazing TEDx talk. Steven asked his mentor which passion of his he should choose and this is what his mentor said:

This is the stupidest question anyone has asked me. You’re telling me that there are three things you love and you want me to tell you which two to cut off…so you can limp along on the other one? This is not how things work. The advice I have for you is: don’t discard. Find a way to keep all three of these things in the mix. We’ll find out [what you should do for a living]. Right now, what you do is spend 2 hours a week whole-heartedly engaged in each of those 3 things. Let them them talk to each other. Something will begin to happen in your life that is unique and powerful.

The important thing is to just schedule time for all the things that you love to do: if you love to play guitar and you love to draw and you love to write, just take your free time and divide it into three. Schedule time to work on all those things, no matter how much of it you have. Keep all that stuff in your life and the stuff will start to talk to each other.

Riggs wrote: "I feel anxious to upload it to facebook or any personal blog to start promoting my work, but I have not registered the characters or the idea. you consider dangerous to share the work this way, without having registered the ideas first?"

First, check out my answer to this question

And then read up on copyright from an actual reputable source. (i.e. Not me.) The thing is, you automatically own your copyright to your work the minute you make it. Worrying about copyright shouldn't hold you back from sharing your work.

Soplada wrote: "please tell me how to gain confidence ? :O"

Remember that everyone is faking it.

Caroline wrote: "In college I had a professor who repeated his mantra about "let the work speak for itself." A theory perhaps opposite to your new book. We grow and change others in sharing- yes you are right. Could you also address how to deal with harsh criticism and negative reviews?"

Yeah, this is all stuff I address in the book.

Fact is: our work doesn't speak for itself. The things we say about our work and the stories we tell about it have a huge effect on how people react to it.

As far as harsh criticism and negative reviews: remember that your work isn't you, as close as you feel to it. You made it, it came from your hands, but it isn't you.

And remember the words of Brian Michael Bendis:

the trick is not caring what EVERYBODY thinks of you and just caring about what the RIGHT people think of you.

Esteban wrote: "I live in Buenos Aires and I want to share you book with everyone I care! Are you planning on publishing an Spanish version? (digital or paperback)"

Yeah, there will be a Spanish version, but I don't know when. I'll announce it on my site and Twitter etc. when it's out.

Ando wrote: "How can I share writing work in progress without giving away my surprises? "

Excellent question! Robin Sloan addressed this topic in this awesome post: "Work in public. Reveal nothing.”

I think basically, it's about not just sharing works-in-progress, but sharing the stuff AROUND the works-in-progress: research you're doing, books you're reading, your influences, what writing challenges you're having, etc.

Lydia wrote: "Could you suggest any further reading on art and the creative process?"

Both my books have reading lists in the back of them. Some of my favorite books are here.

Post for post, I think the best site on the net for inspiration is Maria Popova's BRAIN PICKINGS

Ando wrote: "Any tips on initiating conversations online?"

Besides reading my new book, you mean? ;-)

Point away from yourself. Write about your favorite books. Write about books that were an influence on your books. Talk about tools that helped you. Ask yourself the SO WHAT? question for everything you post: "Is this INTERESTING or USEFUL to the people I'm trying to reach?"

Kirsten wrote: "When did you know that your random thoughts and observations about creativity were potentially book material, that your "best practices" would serve the larger artistic community? And what was the process that followed? Was your concept fully realized by the time you approached the publisher?"

My first book Newspaper Blackout was unintentional and sort of a learning experience for me: the poems spread around the net, an editor at Harper Perennial asked me if I'd like to do a book, I said yes, we signed a contract, and the book came out a couple of years later. It sold okay, but didn't change my life, and I kept my day job, and kept writing and blogging.

STEAL began as a blog post of 25 quotes, then people sent me so many quotes there was ANOTHER list of 25 quotes, and then I was asked to give a talk to a community college, so I turned that quote into a blog post that then went viral, and I had at least half a dozen editors email me interested in doing a book. I'd had my eye on an agent for a while and when he tweeted about the post I asked him if he'd like to help me turn it into a book. Then we did the book proposal and pitched it to publishers.

In other words: it was all sort of an accident, but it was an accident I was prepared for. I never set out to be some creativity guru or expert, and I still hate that whole racket and scene, but I've always wanted to write books, so when something of mine hit, I was able to jump on it.

Show Your Work! was done in a very traditional way: I had an idea for a book, I wrote a proposal, and we pitched and sold it to my publisher.

Alice wrote: "Have you consulted lawyers for your work?"

The lawyers at Harper Perennial looked at my work before we published Newspaper Blackout and all agreed it fell under fair use.

Cynthia wrote: "Welcome to the group! Austin will be answering questions throughout the day on Thursday, March 13th in this thread only. In the meantime if you have a question for the author or just want to introd..."

Mr. Klein, Do you believe in coincidence? Or, that perhaps the universe sends out the very things we need when we need them? Ha! I'm sorry to say that I haven't read your book... YET! But I follow you on tumblr and stumbled upon this event. I briefly read a review of your book and will be popping over to amazon to purchase it soon. It just so happens that at this very moment in my life I have questions... Questions about my career. I am a painter. But before I ask my question, let me give you a bit of background. I have a BFA in drawing and painting from the University of Georgia and also a MAE from UGA. I was a figure painter, whose medium was oil paint. Let's fast forward to present day. I'm now a mother of three wonderful kids and have been a stay at home mom for 14yrs. I've never stopped making art or creating... that would've been like not breathing!!! And I have decided that NOW, right now, is my time to rededicate myself to perusing my dreams and career goals of being a commercially successful artist. I have been painting abstract, non-figuative pieces with watercolors, and built a nice portfolio of about 7-10 works. I have started doing some gallery research and have found 2 galleries with open call for artists. I just need to write an artist statement, which scares the crap outta me! My question is, am I crazy to try this? I live in suburbia not a hip young artist community... I'm a 43 year old mother who has no professional art experience. I paint and draw like a maniac, yet feel completely impotent when comes to self confidence that I'm a "good enough" artist. Should I keep going? Or just step away from the edge? Thank you in advance for reading my VERY long winded question.

Tina wrote: "Am I crazy to try this?"

Yes. But everybody who tries to make a living as an artist is crazy!

My books are more about making the work and putting it out there.

For the actual nuts and bolts of running an art business, I've heard there are tons of good books. (Although, I haven't read any of them, honestly. Ha!) My friend Lisa Congdon has one coming out this year that looks pretty good: Art Inc.: The Essential Guide for Building Your Career as an Artist

If somebody on this thread has recommendations, do share.

Hey y'all, I'm going to step away for a bit, but I'll be back later this afternoon/evening to answer the rest of your questions! Keep 'em coming.

Hi Austin,
First I would just like to say that I loved every bit of Steal Like an Artist and how much you have encouraged me to create art again while at the same time giving me the most innovative tips throughout the book. I have been wanting to start collecting quotes from different sorts of media but being one, or at least attempting to be, against the everything-online, I was wondering if you have any good ways of organizing collected quotes? I was thinking of simply writing them out in a notebook but I can't imagine how hard it would be to find a specific quote as my pages add on.

Best,
CH

Any particular ways of squirreling away stuff that you could suggest?
I would like to maintain a "writer's notebook" ..any advice about consistency in writing.

Austin wrote: "Tina wrote: "Am I crazy to try this?"

Yes. But everybody who tries to make a living as an artist is crazy!

My books are more about making the work and putting it out there.

For the actual nuts ..."

Hi Tina, here´s a book that might be useful for you:
I'd Rather Be in the Studio!: The Artist's No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion

OK, so here's my issue : all my inner mantras are negative and the people around me too no one is encouraging me to do anything.
and if i step a first step I'll be shot by comments that i can't do it !

thank you :D

Claire wrote: "I was wondering if you have any good ways of organizing collected quotes?"

What you need is a commonplace book!

Madhusree wrote: "Any particular ways of squirreling away stuff that you could suggest? I would like to maintain a "writer's notebook" ..any advice about consistency in writing."

Yes go out and buy a cheap notebook or a composition book and keep it with you at all times. Set aside fifteen minutes a day and write in it and do that no matter what. Once you start a notebook habit you'll start to stick with it.

Thanks everybody for your questions! I'm headed off on book tour next week. Come see me!