Resolved: Be More Creative — A Book List
To celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas from now through Epiphany and to advocate for the idea of reading books to support New Year projects, resolutions, and goals, I’m writing a series of posts with themed book lists for various popular resolutions. So far…
Day 1: Be More Fit
Day 2: Be Happier
Day 3: Be a Better Cook
Day 4: Be Smarter about Money
Day 5: Be More Purposeful and Get Things Done
For New Year’s Eve, the topic is creativity. I have two projects related to creativity books ready to go for 2014.
The first is one of the books on my list for the New Year’s Resolution Reading Challenge: The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield. The War of Art was recommended by a friend and artist, Katie Argyle. Her fun calendar with pictures from a Tea Room kept me company in the kitchen for all of 2013. I’m looking forward to applying the principles of The War of Art to my writing work.
Get more creative in 2014 by spending the year exploring The Artist’s Way
My second project is related to a classic choice for pumping up creativity, The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. I joined a group administered by Laurel Regan of Alphabet Salad. Instead of spending a week on each of the 12 chapters in The Artist’s Way (the traditional method), we’ll do one month on each chapter. If you’re interested in joining, get the details and invitation at Alphabet Salad.
I’ve gone through The Artist’s Way twice before and was always mildly disappointed. I love the issues that the chapters explore, but the exercises don’t seem to quite get at the issues for me. My thought, when I finished, was that I should do this again and invent my own exercises. But, of course, that takes times. So the one month per chapter idea is perfect. I’ll finally have the time and motivation to find a way to explore each issue in a way that works for me.
If your creativity moves in the direction of writing, I invite you to join Wordsmith Studio today for a New Year’s Eve Bash, a 24-hour Twitter party at the hashtag #WSchat. I’ll be taking it over for an hour (2PM Eastern / 1PM Central / Noon Mountain / 11AM Pacific / 10AM Alaskan / 9AM Hawaiian) to lead a goal-setting workshop.
What books have helped your creativity?
If you’re reading books to be more creative in the new year (or for other goals, projects, and resolutions), join us at The New Year’s Resolution Reading Challenge! Don’t forget that we’ll have a live Twitter Chat tomorrow, New Year’s Day, to discuss our goals and books.
I have gone through The Artist’s Way, but would like to do it again.
I have gone through The Artist’s Way, but would like to do it again.
I know The Artist’s Way but not the other. It sounds interesting, too. For fiction writers, I recommend Writing 21st Century Fiction by Donald Maass. (Yes, the Donald, the master.) This book is chock full of practical advice and writing exercises either to get you started or to enrich the work you’re already doing. I’m not sure I’ll ever “finish” it, in the sense of working through everything. But it’s a great book to pick up when you’re pondering a writing problem.
Thanks for these recommendations, Joy, and Happy New Year to you!
It’s been years since I’ve read “The Artist’s Way.” I may have to dig it out again. “The War of Art” is on my TBR list, thanks to a recommendation months ago from Lori Sailiata.
I’m really enjoying this series, Joy.
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The War of Art is another of my usual annual re-reads. I keep “losing” my copy of it, so at this point I have it in hardcover, softcover and ebook format! I never did get through the Artist’s Way, but I did end up doing the Morning Pages for many years as a result of reading the first part of the book.
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This is a great post! I can’t wait to see all your suggestions!!
I am so impressed with all your resolutions for 2014!
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