Copying............................

Nobody is born with a style or a voice.  We don't come out of the womb knowing who we are.  In the beginning, we learn by pretending to be our heroes.  We learn by copying.  We're talking about practice here, not plagiarism - plagiarism is trying to pass someone else's work off as your own.  Copying is about reverse-engineering.  It's like a mechanic taking apart a car to see how it works.
      We learn to write by copying down the alphabet.  Musicians learn to play by practicing the scales.  Painters learn to paint by reproducing masterpieces.
      Remember:  Even The Beatles started as a cover band.

-Austin Kleon,  Steal Like An Artist:  10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative