It’s hard not to be inspired by Austin Kleon’s Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative–a book that hit the New York Times best-seller list and has quickly won over creative types who love Austin’s simple but profound advice. This very feature, Live By the Book, is all about everyday inspiration brought to you by books, so this week we’re turning the tables, and asking: What inspires you? Please tell us below, in the comments (a Pantone postcard would be nice, but might take too long), and a copy of Austin’s book could be yours!

Live by the Book: Steal Like an Artist by workmanpub

Is it a framed piece of art, like one of Austin’s own Newspaper Blackout poems? If you’re the photography type, would the vintage filter on a Lomography Domino Camera send you out on a snapping excursion? Or does the blank page inspire you? Maybe perching at an (out)standing workstation gets your creative juices flowing. But if you’re really stuck, we do hope you have an Artist’s Mini Survival Kit at the ready!

If, on the other hand, you’re really feeling like a powerhouse of imagination, it’s wise to have multiple surfaces (like a real, working, mini Etch-a-Sketch necklace — you know, for when the sketchbook isn’t handy) on which to scribble your best creative secrets. And they wouldn’t be creative secrets if you didn’t have the option of eliminating any trace of your notes and sketches. No, seriously,  I mustache you to erase that.

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Steal Like An Artist Book Trailer from Austin Kleon on Vimeo.

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PS: Rule #8 (page 100 in Steal Like An Artist): Be Nice. Make Friends.

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Steal Like An Artist

By Austin Kleon

In Bookstores and Online February 28th

Don’t cry, there are enough copies for everyone.

Ten lucky winners will each win a 11×14 framed limited edition print of one of Austin’s newspaper blackout poems (valued at $185, offered exclusively by 20×200.com).

To be eligible to win, just email a copy of your receipt for the purchase of a copy of Austin Kleon’s new book STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST by 11:59pm (pst) February 28, 2012 to promotions@workman.com.  Include your full name, address (where print would be shipped), phone number and email address when sending in the receipt. The 10 winners will be selected at random on February 29 and will be notified by March 5, 2012.  The winners names will also be posted at austinkleon.com.