Steal Like An Artist and Learn from the Best
by Marcia Moston @MarciaMoston I teach a class called Steal Like An Artist, a title I promptly stole after reading Austin Kleon�s book with the same name. We study examples of good writing, some to model, some to simply admire in hopes there�s such a thing as learning by literary osmosis. Although I know there�s a lot to learn from reading bad writing, I seldom use it as an example. It�s a philosophy I adopted a long time ago after reading a response Mark Twain gave to a question about his river piloting days. I can�t find the interview, but my paraphrased memory of it runs something like this: When Twain was asked how he knew where all the hidden reefs and rocks were, he said he didn�t need to know where all the dangers were�he just needed to know where the deep water was. (And if Twain didn�t say that, it�s still an idea that�s served me well, both in life� can�t anticipate every danger and temptation, but can know the where the good way is�and in teaching. Whether they write fic...