Creativity
Reviews
A very short book about encouraging a creative practice. Focused mainly on writing, it could also have uses in other artistic pursuits. Some might say it is far too short, but it embraces what it is. There's very little filler (such as you might see in other books of its kind), it is to the point, and the few instructions it gives are direct and easy to implement. I'll put this on my permanent shelf next to Austin Kleon and Twlya Tharp.
Watched a few youtube videos of John before to get that voice in my head. Nice short book that explains things you know, but never thought would be so valuable.
Short, helpful, and enjoyable. Would reccomend.
For those facing writer's block, I highly recommend this book. John Cleese offers sound, simple solutions on how to harness your creative ability. I found myself constantly underlining and staring passages for reference later on when that inevitable block comes around. My only complaint was that it was too short!
Highlights
It is, however, very imnportant that when you first have a new idea, you don't get critical too soon. New and 'woolly' ideas shouldn't be attacked by your logical brain until they've had time to grow, to become clearer and sturdier. New ideas are rather like small creatures. They're easily strangled. So exercise patience, until you have a clear sense of what it is that you've come up with. Then you can bring your critical thinking in. Not before.
When you're being creative there is no such thing as a mistake.
And the language of the unconscious is not verbal. It's like the language of dreams. It shows you images, it gives you feelings, it nudges you around without you immediately knowing what it's getting at.
This intelligent unconscious of ours, then, is astoundingly powerful.
Wherever you can find a way of doing things that is better than what has been done before, you are being creative.