10 Rules That Will Change the Way You Create: Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon (Full Summary + Insights)
📘 Book : Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
Subtitle: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
Genre: Self-Help / Creativity / Productivity
Length: ~2000+ words
🔥 Introduction: Why This Book is a Creative Breakthrough
Austin Kleon’s Steal Like an Artist isn’t your typical self-help book—it’s a practical, visual, and deeply personal guide to embracing creativity in the 21st century. At just under 150 pages, it’s packed with advice that hits hard and sticks with you. The book’s core idea is simple: nothing is original—and that’s not a bad thing. Instead, creativity is about collecting ideas, remixing them, and expressing them through your unique lens.
Let’s dive into the 10 rules from the book, each expanded with examples and reflections to help you apply them immediately.
🖼️ Rule 1: Steal Like an Artist
“Every new idea is just a mashup or a remix of one or more previous ideas.”
Kleon doesn’t mean plagiarize—he means study, absorb, and remix. The greatest artists, from Picasso to Steve Jobs, "stole" ideas. But they made them better, transformed them, and made them personal.
💡 Example:
If you're a musician, don’t wait for some mythical “original idea.” Listen to your favorite artists. Borrow their chord progressions, rhythms, or themes—then twist them into your style.
Practical Tip:
Create a “swipe file”—a digital or physical notebook where you save things that inspire you: quotes, visuals, designs, phrases, etc.
📚 Rule 2: Don’t Wait Until You Know Who You Are to Get Started
“You’re ready. Start making stuff.”
Identity is fluid and emerges from the process of doing. You don't need to know your “niche,” “style,” or “voice” before you begin. Start messy. Learn by doing.
💡 Example:
Writers often worry about their tone or genre. Instead, just write blogs, poems, tweets—anything. Your style will emerge as a byproduct of doing.
Practical Tip:
Give yourself permission to be a beginner. Pick a small daily habit (drawing for 10 minutes, writing 100 words) and stick to it.
🧑🎨 Rule 3: Write the Book You Want to Read
“Draw the art you want to see. Start the business you want to run.”
This rule flips creativity from external to internal. Create what you crave. Chances are, others are craving it too.
💡 Example:
If you’re frustrated with boring history books, write one that’s funny and engaging. Like how Horrible Histories turned dry facts into entertainment.
Practical Tip:
Ask yourself: What’s missing in the world that I wish existed? Then go make it.
👀 Rule 4: Use Your Hands
“We don’t know where we’re going. We’re just going.”
In our digital world, it’s easy to get stuck in your head. Kleon encourages getting physical—use scissors, glue, sketchbooks, whiteboards. The physical act of creation stimulates different brain areas.
💡 Example:
Instead of using Photoshop for everything, try printing out photos and physically cutting them to create a collage. It might spark a different idea than clicking with a mouse.
Practical Tip:
Start a “creative warm-up” ritual: doodle, cut out magazine headlines, write with your non-dominant hand—just do something tactile.
🧑🏫 Rule 5: Side Projects and Hobbies Are Important
“It’s the side projects that really take off.”
Don’t box yourself into one identity. Your side passions often feed your main work in surprising ways.
💡 Example:
Brian Eno, the music producer, was deeply into visual arts and architecture. These passions influenced the layered textures in his music.
Practical Tip:
Dedicate a few hours a week to a hobby that’s just for fun. Whether it’s cooking, gardening, or coding, creativity flows when pressure is low.
🕵️♀️ Rule 6: The Secret: Do Good Work and Share It with People
“In the beginning, obscurity is good.”
You don’t need a giant audience—just make good stuff and put it out into the world consistently. The internet rewards people who show up and share their journey.
💡 Example:
Think of YouTubers like MrBeast—he posted hundreds of videos before gaining traction. His breakthrough came from consistency, experimentation, and sharing.
Practical Tip:
Pick a platform (YouTube, Medium, Instagram) and start sharing your process, not just your polished results.
🧭 Rule 7: Geography Is No Longer Our Master
“You can live anywhere and still connect with the world.”
You’re not limited by your location anymore. The internet is your playground. Follow people you admire, join online communities, and share your work.
💡 Example:
People in small towns have built global businesses from their laptops. Like Ali Abdaal (YouTube productivity coach) who started while still a med student in Cambridge.
Practical Tip:
Create a digital home for your creativity—a blog, newsletter, portfolio, or YouTube channel.
📢 Rule 8: Be Nice (The World Is a Small Town)
“You’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with.”
Be kind, generous, and genuine. Creative success often comes from networks. You never know who might help or collaborate in the future.
💡 Example:
Kleon shares how reaching out with appreciation to artists he admired led to real friendships and collaborations.
Practical Tip:
Comment thoughtfully on others' posts. Email your heroes with sincere praise. Show up in online communities with humility.
🧰 Rule 9: Be Boring (It’s the Only Way to Get Work Done)
“Take care of yourself. Stay out of debt. Keep your day job.”
Creativity thrives on structure. It’s tempting to believe the myth of the chaotic genius, but the truth is: routines, good sleep, and stability fuel great work.
💡 Example:
Twyla Tharp, a legendary choreographer, wakes up at 5:30 a.m. and follows a strict routine. That’s how she created decades of brilliant work.
Practical Tip:
Create a weekly creative calendar. Even if you only have 30 minutes daily, consistency beats intensity.
💀 Rule 10: Creativity Is Subtraction
“Choose what to leave out. Nothing is more paralyzing than the idea of limitless possibilities.”
Constraints help focus. Limit your tools, your themes, your goals. That’s how you sharpen your voice and style.
💡 Example:
Dr. Seuss wrote Green Eggs and Ham using only 50 words. It became one of the best-selling children’s books ever.
Practical Tip:
Set constraints: Only use black and white in a drawing. Write a story with one paragraph per scene. You’ll be surprised by what you create.
💬 Bonus: Austin Kleon’s Tools of the Trade
Throughout the book, Kleon emphasizes the importance of keeping things simple and analog:
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Moleskine notebooks for daily notes and sketches
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Sharpie pens for clarity and bold ideas
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Index cards for organizing thoughts
He also recommends building a “creative ecosystem” where your tools, habits, environment, and people all support your artistic journey.
✨ Final Thoughts: The Big Takeaway
“You don’t need to be a genius. You just need to be yourself.”
Steal Like an Artist is not about faking originality. It’s about honestly collecting, consistently creating, and confidently sharing.
Creativity isn’t reserved for the elite. It’s for anyone willing to show up every day, stay curious, and remix the world around them.
🛠️ Practical Exercises to Try Right Now:
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Create a Swipe File: Start collecting things that inspire you—quotes, visuals, code snippets.
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Daily Doodle or Note: One drawing or idea every day in a notebook.
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Steal Like a Chef: Take 3 creators you admire and mash up their styles into something new.
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Limit Yourself: Try a creative challenge with hard limits—like writing only 100-word stories.
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Publish Today: Share one thing—sketch, thought, photo, quote—online today.
🧭 Ideal for Readers Who:
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Feel stuck creatively or afraid of copying
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Want to start a side hustle, blog, or YouTube channel
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Are early in their artistic journey
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Need motivation to start or restart their creative life