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Fearless Creating
by
Eric Maisel
For writers, painters, or performers in any field, new hope for overcoming creative blocks and finishing the art of their dreams.
The blank page, empty canvas, or uncarved stone will often fill artists with dread. But so may the thought of finishing, showing, or even selling their work. It is in this "artistic anxiety" that creative blocks begin.
With an understanding that c...more
The blank page, empty canvas, or uncarved stone will often fill artists with dread. But so may the thought of finishing, showing, or even selling their work. It is in this "artistic anxiety" that creative blocks begin.
With an understanding that c...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
October 17th 1995
by Tarcher
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This book picked me at a garage sale. I put it aside for the future, thinking it might not be too bad.
Self help books on creativity are a weird topic, and they often degenerate into cheerleading. Which I suppose is fine for people who need somebody to tell them "you can do it", but have nobody handy. Another kind, usually written by a writer, concentrate exclusively on getting unblocked, something that happens to all types, but especially writers.
This is not really either type of book. It does c...more
Self help books on creativity are a weird topic, and they often degenerate into cheerleading. Which I suppose is fine for people who need somebody to tell them "you can do it", but have nobody handy. Another kind, usually written by a writer, concentrate exclusively on getting unblocked, something that happens to all types, but especially writers.
This is not really either type of book. It does c...more
May 04, 2012
Melinda Belle Harrison
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
all artists and writers
Recommended to Melinda Belle by:
a therapist
This is the book that changed my life. It's not about making art, but the psychology of making art, all kinds, painting, writing, and so forth. I would not be the person I am today if I had not bought this book and did each and every exercise with deliberate purpose. I just re-read it because I needed a boost to work when ill. Or when life gets in the way of art. It stays on my desk.
I've read this book when I was a student (contemporary dance), and I found great insights in it. It describes the differents stages of making art (preparing, choosing a subject, working, finishing, showing etc) with difficulties and (in)appropriate responses in every stage. Lots of practical exercices. My favorite book on art and creativity.
I totally loved this book. It divides the creative process into six steps, each of which has it's own psychological challenges. I also liked how his analysis of the creative the process applies to a variety of the arts, whether it be music, art, writing, etc.
All books I have read by this author are extremely helpful, full of excellent ideas and practices. I often pull his books from my shelf to re-read again and again.
Mr Maisel was doing a nice email newsletter for a long time, dont know if he still does it. Good book if you need help getting going on that creating!
Mar 25, 2011
Sarah Mariah
is currently reading it
Ha, ha - it says "finishing." That's one bold promise, but we'll give it a try....the book is actually in my posession....more later....
Jan 12, 2012
Author G D Grace
marked it as to-read
Another book that I'm excited about reading.
I love the introduction to this book. He doesn't seem like a bullshit artist, but rather someone who's worked with a lot of artists. I've continued on. Trouble is, he is really convincing about stopping to do the exercises, but I am often holding a sleeping baby, or nursing, or snatching a little snack in the middle of the night when I can't sleep, and am more than the usual amount resistant to doing the exercises, which then makes me feel kind of badly. But hey, I'm reading!
Good stuff - now, if only I could stop procrastinating and actually put it into practice.
One of my many "writing devotional" books. Lots of good thoughts about why we procrastinate and how to overcome that special fear of creating. Most of the exercises were not something I would do, but a couple are meaningful. Overall worth it.
I really didn't like this book. I read it for a class. He just rubbed me the wrong way. Not sure why. Different kind of rubbed the wrong way than Sark. I think he made me grumpy because he thought he had the pipeline to getting around artist's block.
May 23, 2013
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Jan 05, 2013 08:31pm