Writing Wednesday: Stealing All The Way

It can be tempting as a writer to read books and think--Ooh, I want to write a book like that. And then you do. And you figure you did a pretty good job.

Problem: writing a book because you liked someone else's book could lead to you copying that book and losing your voice. We are always taking inspiration from other authors. I have no problem with stealing. But if you are going to steal, you have to go all the way. You have to steal it completely. You have to steal it and then sit on it and sleep with it, and twist it so that no one will ever recognize it. The best thieves are the ones who can walk right out of a museum or a store, and they have the stolen item with them, but no one sees it. That's who you are.

So take what you like from others, and then make it yours utterly. That's real originality.