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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/36728
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

What techniques? I can give you some ideas, at least.

1. Just remember - it hasn't all been done before, and it never will be. This is the precise reason why new books are written and new music is played. The writers/artists feel that the current canon is irrelevant or not sufficiently expressive of their personal situation, era or understanding. In many cases, new material exists because the current material is simply seen as inadequate. Particularly, new material is created because little material is seen as _companionable_ enough. 

2. Remember that you are an individual. No-one has been you before, or will be you again. And no-one can understand, interpret, enjoy or feel things the way you do. In this way the art you create will be distinctive and unique. 

I'll give you an analogy from the software world. You can download executable files and run them on your machine. They don't change from executable to executable, your version will be the same as mine. They'll run fine, do their job fine but you may get the odd crash. Or you can compile a program which will then be tailored specifically for your hardware and run better, smoother and more effectively. It's the same with writing. It's great to read the work of others but it may not be specific enough for you - if you write something, it will be personal and expressive to _your_ situation.

Original score: 3