Jason Robert Brown 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.'

It is one test of a fully developed writer that he reminds us of no one but himself.

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.

I would like to be able to write in my own voice.

He has found his style, when he cannot do otherwise.

Writing is not a competitive sport. Everyone that writes has his or her own voice.

It is rare that even a jazz musician finds an individual voice.

Listening to others does not mean you should sound like them; find your own voice by telling stories as authentically as possible.

Don't imitate. Write what you know about, that has to be your goal.

I think that I've just kind of found my niche, if that makes sense. I still write the same, but I feel like I've found what separates me, and I always try to stay in that when I write. It took me a long time to discover that, so I try to be protective.

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.

I think you can't help but write in your own voice.

You can only write your own vision.

As an artist, I try not to sound the same as others. Or even as myself.

Everybody comes to film differently; everybody has different backgrounds. Just find whatever your lane is naturally. Don't try to force yourself into someone else's vision or try to tell a story that you're not passionate about.

A good writer does not write as people write, but as he writes.

The photographs that excite me are photographs that say something in a new manner; not for the sake of being different but ones that are different because the individual is different and the individual expresses himself.

I've always been the audience that I wanted to reach, so I write for myself.

Write the poem only you can write.

I do not believe in pure idioms. I think there is naturally a desire, for whoever speaks or writes, to sign in an idiomatic, irreplaceable manner.

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.

I just believe that young people need to be able to learn how to write in their own voice. Just like a musician, you pride yourself on having your own distinct sound.

Photography can never grow up if it imitates some other medium. It has to walk alone; it has to be itself.

When you're an artist, all you're trying to do is self-express.

It does not matter how badly you paint so long as you don't paint badly like other people.