BOOKS TO SPARK CREATIVITY
This book changed how I see the creative process.
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert is all about embracing creativity with a sense of openness and curiosity.
She breaks it down into six sections: Courage, Enchantment, Permission, Persistence, Trust, and Divinity. Each part dives deep into the mindset we need to cultivate for a creative life. Courage is the backbone, as fear often creeps in when we’re on the verge of making something meaningful. But Gilbert doesn’t preach perfection; instead, she welcomes imperfection, saying it’s part of the process.
Her view of creativity has a sense of magic to it, almost like ideas are waiting for us to bring them to life. And it’s not about success or validation—it’s about showing up for your craft, embracing the unknown, and letting inspiration flow when it comes. It’s a refreshing reminder that creativity doesn’t have to be painful or complicated. It’s about integrating your creative identity into everyday life with joy, courage, and a little bit of magic.
You Are an Artist by Sarah Urist Green is a guide that invites everyone to embrace their creativity. Green encourages us to shed the idea that art is only for the “gifted” and instead see it as something we can all integrate into our lives.
Through a series of prompts, challenges, and ideas from various contemporary artists, the book pushes you to explore new ways of seeing the world and creating in it. The exercises are playful, unconventional, and often deeply personal, encouraging you to experiment with different materials and approaches.
Green emphasizes that art is more about the process than the final product. It’s about taking risks, stepping outside your comfort zone, and letting your imagination guide you. By giving yourself permission to create without worrying about the outcome, you start to embody your creative identity.
It’s about showing up, creating, and discovering new ways to express who you are.
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield is a powerful call to action for anyone struggling to bring their creative ideas to life. Pressfield introduces the concept of “Resistance,” that internal force that shows up as self-doubt, procrastination, or fear, keeping us from doing the creative work we’re meant to do. The book is divided into three parts: Resistance, Combating Resistance, and Beyond Resistance.
In the first part, Pressfield identifies all the sneaky ways Resistance manifests, especially when we’re about to embark on something meaningful. In the second section, he offers practical wisdom for overcoming Resistance—showing up, doing the work, and embracing the grind of the creative process. Discipline and persistence are Pressfield’s go-to tools. Finally, in the last part, he explores the deeper spiritual side of creativity, believing that when we push through Resistance, we tap into something greater than ourselves—a sense of purpose or calling.
The War of Art is a straightforward, no-nonsense guide that cuts through excuses and helps you embody your creative identity by showing up every day and putting in the work, no matter what.
The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest is all about self-sabotage and how to transform it into self-mastery. Wiest takes us through the internal obstacles that hold us back, showing that often, we are our own biggest challenge. The “mountain” in the title is a metaphor for the barriers we create within ourselves, rooted in fear, insecurity, or past experiences.
Wiest explains that self-sabotage happens when our subconscious mind holds onto comfort zones or unresolved emotions, even when we consciously want to grow and change. She dives deep into why we resist change and how we can recognize these patterns. The book encourages us to face our inner mountains, not with frustration, but with compassion and self-awareness. By transforming these limiting beliefs and behaviors, we can integrate new, healthier patterns into our lives. The book emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and understanding the root causes of our fears to truly move forward.
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron is a transformative guide for unlocking your creativity and overcoming the blocks that keep you from living a creative life. Cameron talks about creativity as a spiritual practice, something that needs to be nurtured and developed with intention and care.
The book is structured as a 12-week program, where each week focuses on different themes to help you reconnect with your creative self. One of the core practices is the “Morning Pages”—three pages of free writing done every morning to clear your mind of clutter and spark inspiration. Another key tool is the “Artist Date,” a weekly solo excursion to engage with new experiences that fuel your creativity. Through the program, she encourages readers to let go of perfectionism and embrace their creative identity with freedom and self-compassion.
Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday is all about finding inner peace and clarity in a noisy world. Holiday explores the power of stillness—both mental and physical—as the essential element for success, happiness, and a fulfilling life. Drawing from Stoicism, Buddhism, and other philosophies, he shows how stillness allows us to cut through distractions and focus on what really matters.
The book is divided into three parts: Mind, Spirit, and Body. In the first part, Holiday emphasizes the importance of quieting the mind, eliminating distractions, and practicing mindfulness to achieve mental clarity. The second part focuses on nurturing the spirit by letting go of ego, cultivating gratitude, and connecting with a deeper sense of purpose. Lastly, the body section stresses the importance of rest, movement, and taking care of yourself to support your overall well-being.
Whether it’s through meditation, journaling, or simply taking a moment to breathe, stillness helps us align with our true selves and make better decisions.
Austin Kleon’s trilogy—Steal Like an Artist, Show Your Work!, and Keep Going—is a practical and inspiring guide for living a creative life.
1. Steal Like an Artist: Kleon encourages embracing influence, arguing that nothing is truly original. Instead, creativity is about remixing ideas from various sources to create something uniquely yours. It’s about finding inspiration everywhere and integrating it into your work.
2. Show Your Work!: This book emphasizes the importance of sharing your creative process, not just the finished product. Kleon believes that by sharing your journey, you connect with others and grow, even if your work isn’t perfect.
3. Keep Going: The final book is about sustaining your creativity. Kleon shares strategies for staying inspired and consistent, reminding artists to find joy in the process and to keep showing up, especially during difficult times.
Kleon’s trilogy encourages you to stay curious, share your work, and persist in your creative journey with intention and joy.
