I have a confession to make. In case I haven’t shared this before, I can be a little too independent in certain areas of my life. In some situations—even if I am a total newbie—I jump right in, assuming I will figure things out as I go.
Of course, this doesn’t mean I don’t always do my fair share of internet surfing first. Before I baked my first loaf of whole wheat bread, I looked up at least a half a dozen recipes before landing on the one I wanted to try. And when it came to doing my first Whole30, I scoured numerous articles and blog posts, before I decided it was worth giving up sugar.
Only some endeavors are a little more daunting than others. And there are journeys that need guides not just at the beginning, but all along the trail. In other words, there are times when Pinterest and a few blog posts won’t cut it. When we need more than just eight hundred words or less on experimenting with something that could change the trajectory of our lives—or at least how we spend our spare time over the next six months.
When it comes to creativity, and especially writing, this has been true for me. For something that may appear to others as simple as typing words on a blank screen, writing has been a vulnerable, and challenging discipline for me. Before I even began, I was afraid of failure. And since, there have been many days I’ve considered quitting.
But do you know what has kept me writing?
Other writers. People who are further along in their journey who have told me—through their books—it’s normal to want to give up, that the only way to succeed as a writer is to keep showing up, and that, oh yeah, writing is vulnerable. There’s no easy way around it.
When it comes to the creative journey, not all of us will know famous creators who can personally show us the way in our particular medium. But thankfully, there are still many accessible ways we can learn from these people. One of the most obvious mediums is through reading their books.
Today, I am sharing a few fabulous books that changed my perspective on my creative journey. Yes, some of them most clearly talk about the writing life, but all contain valuable perspectives and tips from some of our world’s most notable creatives. In the pages of these books, I found guides that have helped me navigate the ups and downs of this journey. If you check them out, it is my hope, you will too.
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
by: Elizabeth Gilbert
So many of us need permission to let go of what we produce, so that we can feel free to create. In this book, Elizabeth Gilbert gives us our permission slip. Told in the beautiful way that only she can, Elizabeth shares stories and lessons that will inspire you to do the work you’ve been longing to do.
Bird By Bird
by: Anne Lamott
This book is about writing, and yet if you’re seeking to tell a story through your art, whatever it is, it’s still worth the read. It was in these pages, Anne helped me begin to let go of the pressure to be perfect that was holding me back, so I could truly be free to create.
The War of Art
by: Steven Pressfield
Have you ever gone to write or create something, but suddenly felt the urge to procrastinate? Like perhaps all of a sudden folding your laundry while watching the TV sounded like a better idea? Steven Pressfield would call this experience “the Resistance”—the force inside keeping us from doing our most important work. In short, at times one paragraph long, chapters, Steven unpacks “the Resistance,” and how we can overcome it to create.
Deep Work
by: Cal Newport
Our best work, what Cal Newport calls Deep Work, happens when we finally are able to put aside all distractions and enter what artists refer to as “flow”—the state where everything but your work fades away. This book helped me access what structure and physical work set up I needed to create to help me get my best work done. It will help you look at how you create in a whole new light.
Real Artists Don’t Starve
by: Jeff Goins
Many of us have grown up believing the myth that it is impossible for artists to make enough money to live on. In this book, Jeff Goins turns this belief on its head, and replaces it with a whole new framework to consider for doing our art in such a way that we don’t starve.
What books have helped you on your creative journey?
If you’re not a book person, what podcasts, Ted Talks, etc. have inspired you?
Often, before we create, we need to clear some space for ourselves—not just physically, but mentally too. Sign up for my email list, and get my Five Ways to Declutter Your Mind resource. In it I share five ways to cut through the noise in your life, to find more peace and clarity.
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
