5 Must-Read Books About the Creative Process

“I say, play your own way. Don’t play what the public want - you play what you want and let the public pick up on what you doing - even if it takes them fifteen, twenty years.”
                                                                - Thelonius Monk

There are a lot of books out there about the creative process. These are the ones that have influenced me the most and maybe they’ll help you, too…

1. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

I consider this a Bible for creative people, especially those who suffer from procrastination. It changed my life, and now I give it to all my professional creative friends and refer it to aspiring writers. In a nutshell, it describes the insidious ways “Resistance” prevents us from creating our soul’s work and offers solutions for beating it. It’s written in short, kick-ass paragraphs that will have you nodding in recognition and then making a b-line for the drawing board.

2. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

I recommend all her books, but Bird by Bird takes you step-by-step into the writing process. Anne teaches you how to write “sh*tty first drafts” and offers unusual advice you won’t find in other books, like how to deal with jealousy when your friends become more successful than you.  Hiliarious, helpful, and poignant, it will make you a better writer and a better person.

3. Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards

This is the How-to-Draw Bible - the book that taught me and millions of others how to draw realistically. My middle school teachers, high school teachers, and college professors all taught me lessons from this book, and now I teach from it. Even if you don’t know how to draw a stick figure, as long as you have a little patience and a sharp pencil you can learn to draw a realistic picture of your hand after 3 chapters. You’ll suddenly see the world with brand new eyes, the way an artist sees, and no more stick figures, ever.

4. If You Can Talk, You Can Write by Joel Saltzman

I love this book. The writing is so good and conversational it feels like a friend is giving you advice over the phone. The tips are extremely helpful, funny, and inspirational. The book is packed with relevant quotes from famous writers that will make you laugh. The title says it all.

5. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

The only fiction book on the list. You’ve got to read this thing if you haven’t already. It’s about an architect named Howard Roark - the embodiment of artistic integrity - and his battle to stay true to himself in a world that rewards mediocrity over ingenuity. Sure, it’s almost 700 pages long, but the writing is beautiful, there’s a twisted love story, and the characters are terrific. It will teach you how to set creative standards for yourself, and you’ll never look at a building the same way again. 

I’m sure you have some books you can recommend. What are they? Leave a comment!