Creator Science

#65: Austin Kleon – 10 years as a full-time writer and stealing like an artist

Jul 20, 2021

Austin Kleon, a New York Times bestselling author known for his illustrated works on creativity, dives into his journey as a full-time writer. He discusses how his book 'Newspaper Blackout' sparked the idea for 'Steal Like an Artist' and reflects on the importance of timing and initiative in creative endeavors. Austin shares insights on the self-publishing vs. traditional publishing debate, noting the evolving landscape for authors. He also emphasizes the value of personal joy over wealth, advocating for a unique definition of success in life and creativity.

01:06:19

Creator website

Episode guests

Austin Kleon

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Creativity Beyond Academia

10min

The Mythology of Texas and Its Impact on Artistic Identity

2min

Seizing Creative Moments

12min

Parallels Between Music and Modern Creation

2min

Navigating the Spectrum of Publishing: Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Routes

5min

Navigating Creativity and Business

25min

Embracing Enjoyment Over Wealth in Life Choices

4min

Austin Kleon is the New York Times bestselling author of a trilogy of illustrated books about creativity in the digital age: Steal Like An Artist, Show Your Work!, and Keep Going.

He’s also the author of Newspaper Blackout, a collection of poems made by redacting the newspaper with a permanent marker.

His books have been translated into dozens of languages and have sold over a million copies worldwide. He’s been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, PBS Newshour, and in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

New York Magazine called his work “brilliant,” The Atlantic called him “positively one of the most interesting people on the Internet,” and The New Yorker said his poems “resurrect the newspaper when everybody else is declaring it dead.”

He speaks for organizations such as Pixar, Google, SXSW, TEDx, and The Economist. In previous lives, he worked as a librarian, a web designer, and an advertising copywriter.

In this episode, we talk about how Newspaper Blackout led to Steal Like An Artist, when he knows it’s time to write another book, the pros and cons of self-publishing, why Austin doesn’t believe he’s business savvy, and the role of Luck in Austin’s ability to make a living as a full-time writer.

Visit Austin Kleon's website

Follow Austin Kleon on Twitter

Follow Austin Kleon on Instagram

Full transcript and show notes

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RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE

→ #2: James Clear

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