There are so many books and podcasts out there about creativity that it can be hard to know where to begin. Since information overload is just about the biggest inspiration killer for me (other than chocolate-induced hanger and crippling self-doubt), I’m gonna be bold here and declare that the following five gems are the most-impactful resources on creative living I’ve ever encountered.
1 Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert If you read only one book on creativity, make it this one. Gilbert’s insights are uplifting, kind, and easy to digest. Not only this, but her book is made up of lots of short chapters, so you can flip through pages and dip in and out of sections based on whatever’s calling to you at the moment. Topics covered include but are not limited to: resilience, whether or not to get an MFA, the power of great lipstick, and permission to finally get that tattoo. (FYI, even if you’ve never been a fan of Gilbert’s novels and are skeptical about picking this up–I sure as heck was!–I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how useful and inspiring Big Magic is to keep beside your desk, easel, or keytar.)
2 The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron This is the book for you if you’re going through a big life transition and/or feel like you need a giant jolt to your system to help you start living more creatively. In other words: this isn’t just a book you casually read, it’s something you do (a.k.a., a massive time investment). Reading this book and doing all the exercises takes 12 weeks and is equivalent to the amount of time you might spend taking a writing-intensive night class. Personally, I did it during Covid lockdown and came out the other side feeling like I’d just been to creative rehab, which I mean in the best-possible way. (Weird note: the language can feel a little woo-woo in parts, so I recommend diving into this book with an open mind and taking things with a grain of salt if you happen to encounter any wording that rubs you the wrong way.)
3 The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown Have you ever heard the phrase “perfect is the enemy of done?” Well, for me perfectionism is the enemy of drafting. Seriously, whenever I’m operating from a perfectionist mindset I’m incapable of writing a rough draft to save my life because I’m too hyper-critical to let words and ideas flow. Since writing rough drafts quickly is a crucial part of my job, learning tricks to overcome perfectionism hasn’t just been helpful it has been essential to my creative process. If you can relate to this in any way or feel like perfectionism has certain aspects of your life in a chokehold, I hope you find solace in Brené Brown’s book.
4 The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp If you are someone who responds well to definitive statements and “strict teacher energy,” this is the book for you. Twyla Tharp is a world-famous choreographer who has created more than 160 acclaimed dances in her lifetime, and because of my love of ballet this was the first book on creativity I ever read. It had a huge impact on me at the time, but I must admit I don’t return to it the way I do with Big Magic and The Artist’s Way. Oddly enough, the people who tell me this is their absolute favorite book on creativity tend to be engineers and people with military backgrounds. Go figure. #tutusandcamo
5 Project Runway & Top Chef I first started watching these shows decades ago because they’re just plain fun, but I quickly realized they were also teaching me invaluable lessons about being a creative professional. I swear I’ve learned at least half of what I know about creative problem solving from watching these two TV shows, and this is to say nothing of the way each season teaches us this insanely important truth: nobody wins every challenge. What’s more, I feel like we can all learn useful tricks about how to take criticism, talk about our life stories, and articulate our brand vision from watching these aspiring fashion designers and chefs. (Other recent shows in this vein I’ve enjoyed: Making The Cut on Amazon and Next Gen Chef on Netflix.)
Do you have any favorites I haven’t mentioned?
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