#unique takes

@waywardjoy reblogged your post “Oh sous chefs Imma need you to...” and added:

For lack of a more eloquent way of saying this…this blows. Lack of originality is a sign that maybe you should rethink your hobby. Stop stealing! Nash is awesome. We all agree. But you can’t be Nash. Stealing her words and snark will in fact NOT make you Nash. It won’t even give you a smidgen of her wit. Nash is the only Nash able to Nash like Nash. Get your own words!

I thank you for your encouragement, WJ, truly. And I know what it is. It's carelessness mixed with grandiosity, the whole not being conscious of lifting from others, whether it's me or you or TV or movies or lit. I've scrapped untold idea snippets when it's later hit me that I'd subconsciously lifted. I'm largely apathetic (with admitted spurts of irritation) because it seems so clueless, I just can't summon the energy to be full-out mad.  

If it's purposeful, then it's clumsily done, so, y'know, up your game, Poor Man's Nash. If it were more obvious, to the point where I (and others - because yes, you wannabe, others have indeed noticed!) was certain it was purposeful, well. Y'all have seen how I go after thieves. I'll name 'em without batting an eyelash.   But hey, I get it. Shout-outs when people inspire you are common courtesy, but it's super hard to---- no wait, I lied, look here. And there. And over there. Just for three *recent* examples. I've yet to say "no" when someone has asked. And 99.9% of the reason is because they asked.

And you know what else has happened? I have had people ask me off-sides about snark before. Or just verbiage in general. Basically saying - How can I punch this up a little without making it mean, or - I want this to be dry-funny, not really hahaha-funny, or - Can you think of any names/words/etc. that would work better for a laugh here, etc. I’ve gotten shout-outs for those, but didn’t demand to have, because in a way I consider that script-doctoring. Still, they did it voluntarily, because they’re good peeps.

The saying that “imitation is the highest form of flattery” is only true when there’s been a hat tip in advance. A subsequent hat tip is acceptable, but do better next time. Above all? Find your own style. It’s not easy. It took me *decades*. But once it’s there, it’s reflexive, second nature. And yeah, your personal style will be influenced by others, but everyone’s style is this weird amalgam of a recipe that’ll be unique to you, and it’ll never leave you. In the meantime....