I’m frequently reminded that everything and nothing is an original idea.
One of my most favorite writerly humans,
, in her most recent piece, said:“I think most writers are literary kleptomaniacs, swiping from their loved ones, their friends, even snippets of conversation overheard from strangers in cafés.”
I wholeheartedly agree with her.
A second favorite writerly human of mine, the dearly departed Nora Ephron, talked about everything being copy. Her mother used to tell her this so often that it stuck with her, and now we have the benefit of learning it too. If you’re not sure what I’m referring to, please give yourself a treat and watch the HBO/Max documentary titled “Everything is Copy”. Here’s the trailer:
So, what does this mean? Simple really - Everything in your life is useable as creative fodder. Every experience, every conversation, every fight, every laugh, every single thing - is copy. Nothing is safe from creatives. Isn’t that great?! We have cart blanche to use it all (barring plagiarism - that’s just bad business and not creative at all). But using someone else’s idea as inspiration and creative fodder, yes please. All day.
If it hadn’t been for Evelyn’s piece today, this piece I’m writing right now would not exist. Also, I told her I was going to steal the idea and she told me to do it! I quipped back to her - “I’m stealing knives, time, and lines!” (Knives and time are in ref to my NYT Tiny Love Story btw) I digress. Could you imagine how boring the world would be if we didn’t feed each other morsels of creativity? Or at least leave bread crumbs for each other?
I am a thief
I’m also a great sharer of ideas! Or at least I like to think I am. When I find something that has inspired me I do love to share it with everyone. I feel like a good literary citizen when I do. So, maybe it’s like being a sort of Robin Hood of the writing world.
I have a ton of ideas in my Google drive, some of them were plucked from various conversations I’ve had with friends or my husband. Some of them were sparked from song lyrics or lines of poetry. Some have come from great lines in books or articles. And better still some have come from eavesdropping on strangers conversations. I used to love wandering around Target listening to people! A lot of people use Target to escape their lives and they will call their besties and talk about EVERYTHING while pushing a cart around the store. (Hi, I’m people, I used to do this weekly when I was a stay at home mom.)
Give credit where credit is due
To be a good thief, a Robin Hood thief, please for the love of everything give credit to the person who inspired you. My favorite thing in the world is when another writer says “you inspired me to create this”. That is most likely my ego being fed, but it brings me great joy to know you made something your own off of some tidbit I shared! We creatives are sometimes finicky, but overall any time I have given credit where it’s due there hasn't been a single person who has been mean about it.
I look at it as the golden rule- do unto others as you’d have done to you. The rule of reciprocity- if you want friends-be a friend. If you're inspired try also to be inspiring by sharing what inspired you!
I don't know, maybe i’m weird for thinking this way. I know I’m not alone in this, Jeannine Ouellette wrote about being a good literary citizen and talks a lot about this. I am most definitely not reinventing the wheel.
I would like to mention that there is an outlier here though. And that is when two people who don't know each other come up with the same idea around the same time! Liz Gilbert talks about this in Big Magic, and i’ve seen it in the wild with other creatives. I love the idea that ideas themselves are existing and out here tapping on people's noggins to be let in and actualized! But also, when this happens it’s no one's fault, sometimes two minds really do think alike.
Tell me friends- are you literary kleptos too? Or do you steal other stuff? (Don't answer that- that’s self incrimination 🤭). I am curious about your thoughts on all of that i’ve shared, so please share!!
Thank you so much for being here. I appreciate your support each week. Sending each of you so much love ❤️
Xoxo,
Mesa
Of course!!! Inspiration comes from the oddest places as well as the normal ones (like conversations, books, art, and real life). Everything is fair game, if it’s credited when necessary.
I’m totally a literary klepto. One of my favorite things to do is go to a restaurant or bar just to eavesdrop on conversations. Humans are so fascinating. Thank you, too, for introducing me to the Nora Ephron documentary. I love her. ❤️