The Creativity Framework That Top Artists Use (But Never Talk About)

Austin Kleon's distinctive, concise style explains how creativity involves examining numerous ideas, extracting elements from each, adding our perspective, and creating something new. The author offers a fresh lens through which to view creativity.

This final part of a two-part article summarizes the key points from Austin Kleon's excellent book "Steal Like an Artist." Following the author's advice, I'll summarize the book's chapters while adding my insights.

Share Your Creativity

When you share your work, you start finding more things to share. This benefits your creative journey. For example, when I hoard ideas in Notion or Apple Notes, I learn things, but when I share my thinking process, I'm forced to examine concepts more deeply than I would have otherwise. Since establishing a routine of writing daily about what I'm learning from books and courses, I focus better on the content, knowing I'll need to share it—and sharing requires more profound understanding.

If you don't share your work, you'll never be discovered; learning in public is essential. Nobody will pay attention at first, which is beneficial since your initial work won't be your best, and with no audience, there's no fear of looking foolish.

As you continue sharing and improving, you'll form a community of like-minded people who care about the same things you do. You'll learn from them, they'll learn from you, and everyone will grow together.

Imagine scenarios where the hiring manager at your dream company has already seen your work online. This increases your chances of landing the job and opens opportunities to connect with experts in your field who've encountered your work. We should all embrace learning in public—the benefits are substantial.

“Don’t worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you’ll have to ram them down people’s throats.” —Howard Aiken

Share Your Work

Explore Places to Boost Creativity

When we become too comfortable with our surroundings, we should take this as a cue to seek discomfort by changing them. This can be done by traveling to unfamiliar places and meeting new people. Creativity thrives in discomfort.

When you experience different places and cultures, it's like seeing the world through a new pair of glasses. Upon returning home, you revert to your familiar perspective but retain elements from that other viewpoint. By exposing yourself to new ideas and people, you initiate a series of microevolutions within yourself.

“Distance and difference are the secret tonic of creativity. When we get home, home is still the same. But something in our mind has been changed, and that changes everything.” —Jonah Lehrer

Explore Places

Surround Yourself With Creative People

This principle applies to both online and offline life. Follow the best people online and learn from them. Similarly, build a circle of friends consisting of creative individuals, learn from them, and share your knowledge. Grow together.

You need to find another room if you're the most talented person in the room. If you're not the most talented person in the room, stand next to the person who is, be genuinely helpful to them, and learn from them.

“There’s only one rule I know of: You’ve got to be kind.” —Kurt Vonnegut

Maintain a Routine

Contrary to popular belief, the way to lead a creative life is not to wait for inspiration to strike but to act when you feel motivated in sporadic bursts. This is the opposite of what great writers, artists, and scientists do. When we closely observe the lives of these creative individuals, we see they maintain rigid routines—sitting down to write first thing in the day, usually in the morning, before the day's distractions begin.

Many apps on our phones track work streaks. Focus on building something creative daily and establish a chain of streaks. The longer your streak grows, the less likely you'll want to break it. This is why Duolingo, the language app, is so successful—it makes users visualize their streaks, and as they lengthen, users become increasingly reluctant to break them. It's simple human psychology.

I apply the same principle to my reading. I've set a goal to read for one hour every day. I've built a streak that spans many days now, and the longer it grows, the more motivated I am to extend it rather than break it. It functions like a flywheel that sets your habits in motion. You can leverage the same principle in all walks of life: exercise, business, work, or anything you can imagine.

Always remember, what gets tracked gets improved.

“Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.” —Gustave Flaubert

Routine is Great

Choose Wisely!

Ever noticed how low-budget movies often push the creative boundaries? When a director must shoot in limited locations, they're forced to focus more intensely on story and dialogue to compensate—ultimately elevating the art of cinema.

Similarly, musicians with limited resources must push themselves to produce something brilliant. When we have too many tools and options, we often diminish the creative potential of our work.

Give yourself constraints and work with limited resources. Challenge yourself to write a story with a strict word count or start a business with no capital. Though it might seem counterintuitive, these limitations will push your creative boundaries and produce extraordinary results.

“Telling yourself you have all the time in the world, all the money in the world, all the colors in the palette, anything you want—that just kills creativity.” —Jack White

Limit Yourself

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