Guilty as charged and glad to be the first comment. Learning from top writers is NOT to replicate. Okay? Let's make that clear. If someone copies Shannon or Jessica or Umair or Tim, the best they become is a good copy. The point is NOT to be them or copy them.

BUT. There are things top writers learned the hard way. To open strong. To format for easy reading. To write good titles. New writers SUCK at those.

I am an editor and I cannot tell you how badly new writers need to learn those. Usually submissions get "good" 2 paragraphs in. Titles are weak. Openings are weak. No formatting. No subtitles.

They are still writing for their 8th grade English teacher. Top writers learned that stuff the hard way. Life is too short to learn everything the hard way. Sometimes, we can learn from those who walk a few steps ahead on the path.