New York Times columnist on inspiration, originality and the 4 brilliant people every writer must read

I just finished reading Teju Cole's 'Eight Letters to a Young Writer' and it is one of the most profound, succinct and well written book on writing I have read.

It listed the author’s collected insights on writing, reading and more writing.

According to Teju Cole, the book evolved as a fictional exercise addressed to an imaginary young Nigerian writer. It was written as a genre of letters addressing simple writing precepts to more complex things like voice and calling.

In his first letter, Teju Cole told us that it is important to read more than you write:

"As a writer, whatever your insights might be, you have to connect them to what else has been done in literature. Don’t be like those who worry so much about originality that they end up writing garbage. Instead, disciple yourself to great writers. "

He suggested:

James Joyce (Read Dubliners)

Gabriel García Márquez (Read One Hundred Years of Soliitude)

Thomas Mann (Read Magic Mountain)

J.M Coetzee (Read Disgrace)

Read these authors and learn at their feet.

With an eye to the particular challenge that originality presents to the creative person, he adds:

"Your originality will mean nothing unless you can understand the originality of others."

Cole adds:

"Read slowly, like someone studying the network of tunnels underneath a bank vault in preparation for a heist. What can you steal from the techniques of the masters? Understand what Joyce is doing with language in Dubliners. Immerse yourself in the slow, taut arc of Mann’s Magic Mountain.

And then (a little brashness helps) ask yourself: what can you do even better than them?"

This letter gave us Cole’s insights on books, interviews, freedom, inwardness, artistry, fearless, as well as his rules for writing — is full of such wonderful meditations, at once irreverent and profound.

For those who are interested in reading the essay/letter, you can download it here.

READ: 10 heartfelt quotes from Teju Cole for when you need a Facebook/Instagram caption