Good artists copy. Great artists steal. ~Picasso
Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not happy with that word.
Steal.
Probably it’s my years of parochial school training (Keep your eyes on your own papers, boys and girls!) but the thought of stealing from other writers or artists sets my teeth on edge.
I understand the concept, and I participate in it all the time. Whenever I read one of my favorite authors, my fingers start itching to pick up a pen and write. When I hear beautiful music, I want to run to the piano and play. Cruising the internet sets my brain aflutter with ideas for blog posts and essays and who knows what all.
I call that inspiration, not stealing.
Semantics.
But we writers are all about the words, aren’t we?
And I just don’t like that one.