Roman Coppola Quotes

When I teach writing, I have a mantra: 'Be a first-rate version of yourself, and not a second-rate version of another writer.'

I thought I was clever enough to write as well as these people and I didn't realize that there is something called originality and your own voice.

It's hard work to find your own voice and not to copycat anything.

No one can write like Vallejo and not sound like a fraud. He's just too much himself and not you.

The great man who gives a true transcript of his mind fascinates and instructs. Most writers suppress individuality. They wish to please the public.

I'd rather do my own performance than copy someone else's.

Sometimes you find your voice by trying to write like people, and sometimes you find it by trying to write unlike people.

It's never good to just imitate somebody. That never works, because then you're not filling it with anything.

I feel like the point of being an artist is to have your own voice: to do it the way you would do it and not the way anyone else would do it. If you're a strong enough writer, then that voice is going to come out all the time, and I can't stop it from coming out, no matter what I do.

We all have idols. Play like anyone you care about but try to be yourself while you're doing so.

I've never really tried to copy anyone; I like to have my own style.

No man was ever great by imitation.

The only thing I really recommend, if you're starting out in stand-up is to not try to copy anybody else. You can be influenced by people. I was influenced by Steve Martin and Bob Newhart and Woody Allen, but I never tried to be someone else. I always tried to be myself. And the reason people are successful is they're unique.

I don't want ever to be guilty of what my critics claim: doing formula without original elements.

You have to write the story that's at the front of your head. There is no point in trying to write for the market; it won't ring true.

I learned early in my writing career that if I try to tailor a song for someone else, I'm usually off base. They're usually looking for something from you with your character.

Great artists are people who find the way to be themselves in their art. Any sort of pretension induces mediocrity in art and life alike.

Bernard Shaw said that when you copy yourself, you know you've got style. And I feel that if you can write like you write, then you are true to yourself. And it's not an easy thing to do - it's a disgustingly difficult thing to do.

I wanted to come through with my own voice and, hopefully, have it affect people. I want people to know that I'm not an Elvis impersonator.

About the most originality that any writer can hope to achieve honestly is to steal with good judgment.

At the end of the day, you can't do a copy of somebody.

I like to create something that's unique and kind of true to myself and authentic and everything. I don't really like to mirror myself after different artists.

I'm not trying to make beats that are better than somebody else's. I'm trying to make beats that are genuine to me.

I say to my pupils, 'You can pitch me any thing you've got, but tell me why you're the only person who can write it in the world. Keep digging.'

I don't want nobody to ever say, 'I coulda done that beat' or 'I know where you got that from.'