I’ve delved into more than a few books that explore the creative process and although I’ve referenced a couple of them here and there in my posts, I wanted to compile a brief list of the ones that have been the most impactful.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a writer, painter, musician, or entrepreneur. A complete beginner or a seasoned pro. I believe these titles have something to offer everyone…
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
“If you find yourself asking yourself (and your friends), ‘Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist?’ chances are you are. The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident. The real one is scared to death.”
Simply put: this is one of the best books about the creative process I’ve ever read. Every entry on this list is valuable, but if you twisted my arm and forced me to pick just one, this would be it.
The war in question here is against Resistance. That’s Pressfield’s catchall term for the forces that oppose our creativity — writer’s block, the inner critic, impostor syndrome, procrastination, etc. All the usual suspects.
Like the famous Sun Tzu book it amusingly reverses the title of, this lays out strategic and psychological principles for dealing with your opponent. And most of that comes down to treating your creative passion like a job instead of a daydream: schedule time for it every day, show up, and do the work (which also happens to be the title of Pressfield’s follow-up book).
Most of these have quite a bit of crossover in their content, but The War of Art's concepts and strategies are clear, concise, and comprehensive. It’s short enough to finish in a single sitting, but if you’re like me, you’ll return to it over and over again. There are specific passages I’ve highlighted for quick reference, but I also frequently re-read the entire book after I finish one project and before I start another.
Growing Gills by Jessica Abel
“Too many projects = no projects.”
I really respond to the tough-love approach that some of the other titles on this list take, but if you’re looking for something just a little bit gentler, then this is an excellent guide to creating a realistic (and sustainable) balance between your creative passions and the realities of day-to-day life.
If the name sounds familiar, it’s because I highlighted some of the techniques in Growing Gills in one of my earliest posts about how to decide which creative goal to pursue. I also mentioned that this book is the reason I was able to finish production on The Strange Case of Lucy Chandler. Abel’s process for bringing gigantic projects across the finish line proved indispensable. If I’d never read this, we’d probably still be shooting that damn thing. So this one’s been thoroughly field-tested and I can assure you the advice is solid.
If you’re getting pulled in different directions by multiple projects and failing to make meaningful progress on any of them, this is the book for you.
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
“Living life as an artist is a practice.
You are either engaging in the practice
or you’re not.
It makes no sense to say you’re not good at it.
It’s like saying, “I’m not good at being a monk.”
You are either living as a monk or you’re not.
We tend to think of the artist’s work as the output.
The real work of the artist
is a way of being in the world.”
Rubin’s come up a couple of times in my posts, and for good reason — as a successful and influential record producer who’s worked with a wide array of talented artists in his 40+ year career, he has quite a bit of wisdom to share about what it means to be a creator.
This book is a collection of “78 Areas of Thought”. Essentially, they’re philosophical musings on the nature of creativity and how to nurture it. If that sounds a little too esoteric, I promise you this is also chock-full of practical suggestions.
Rubin covers how to trust your intuition, the power of embracing what you perceive to be your flaws, shaking up your routine to break through blocks, and so much more.
Even still, you should be aware that this is definitely not a nuts and bolts guide like some of these other titles. It’s a little bit more thoughtful and contemplative. Rubin leaves you with a lot to sit with and think about. For me, that’s what makes it an essential counterpart to the more straightforward manifestos.
On Writing by Stephen King
“Put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn’t in the middle of the room. Life isn’t a support system for art. It’s the other way around.”
You don’t have to be a fan of King or even a writer to get something out of this book. Truth be told, I don’t know how any artist could finish it and not be fired up to go make something. It’s described as “part memoir, part master class” and one of my favorite takeaways is how utterly unromantic King is about the process of writing.
“Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration,” He says, “the rest of us just get up and go to work.” So like The War of Art, he hammers home the importance of creating and sticking to a routine. Actually, you’ll find that sentiment pops up in almost all of these books, but to hear it straight from one of the most prolific and revered authors of all time really underscores its significance. King knows from experience that if he loses that momentum, the entire project starts to grow cold and get a bit blurry.
I’m a fan of his work in general, but On Writing should be taught in schools. It’s not only a goldmine of insights, the unassuming prose also makes it feel like you’re just shootin’ the shit with the guy.
Create Or Hate by Dan Norris
“It’s better to create something that others criticize than to create nothing & criticize others.”
Norris believes most people want to make something, but just… don’t. So you have two choices: overcome the fear you feel and cut through the excuses you’re making or succumb to them and grow increasingly bitter, envious, and cynical.
You can be a creator or a hater.
“Hate” in this context is very similar to The War of Art’s concept of resistance, but this one isn’t just about the internal battle you’ll be waging with self-doubt. It also deals with the external forces you’ll come up against and offers advice on how to deal with negative friends, family members, and other naysayers — a subject I recently covered here.
This is the book that made me start paying attention to how much I create vs. how much I consume. And it made me realize how much happier I am when I’m making things rather than talking about things other people made.
Create or Hate was one of the first e-books I borrowed on my Kindle, I read it in one day, and as soon as I was finished I ordered a paperback copy to keep on my bookshelf. For me, the subtitle says it all…
“Successful people make things.”
Take care, friends. Talk to you soon.
If there’s a topic you’d like me to cover or a question you’d like to ask, send a message to chrisfightsdemons@substack.com. If it’s something I think other readers will be interested in, I’ll add it to the list and respond in a future post.
I've been meaning to start the King book – this might be my time to start. I'll add a couple!
The Greatest Song: Spark Creativity, Ignite Your Career, and Transform Your Life – this was written by the singer of Better Than Ezra and is a little unconventional. It's a fictional story but incorporates a lot of cool creative ideas. A very quick read that's got the approval of Peyton Manning, so it's not just a music book.
21-Hit Wonder: Flopping My Way to the Top of the Charts – my buddy Sam wrote this one about his repeated failings in the music business and how he finally broke through by finally following his arrow and blocking out the noise of everyone else. Again, lots of really great life advice for any creative. Highly highly recommended!
Sounds like you're pretty intentional about this! I'll have to look into some of these. I know I spend way more time consuming and starting, than duct taping myself down and typing. Maybe it's like hiking; where does this path go--better start walking! Appreciate it Chris!