You Should — No, You Must — Steal Your Way to Success

Just as Shakespeare lifted plots from his predecessors, young performers today ought to focus on emulating those artists they like most. That’s not to say plagiarism is excusable; it’s not. It just means that artists who are just getting started should seek to model themselves after those who have gone before.

Take it from John Cleese of Monty Python fame: “You say, ‘I’m going to write something completely new and original and very funny.’ You can’t do it. It’s like trying to fly a plane wit...