Last week when I was in my public library, I came across this fabulous book: Ignore Everybody and 39 Other Keys to Creativity by Hugh MacLeod.
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I ended up checking it out. I loved the author’s tips on making a living as a creative person.
Here are the specific keys that spoke to me:
Key #3 – Put the hours in.
“Doing anything worthwhile takes forever. Ninety percent of what separates successful people and failed people is time, effort, and stamina.”
Key #7 – Everyone is born creative.
“If you try to make something just to fit your uninformed view of some hypothetical market, you will fail. If you make something special and powerful and honest and true, you will succeed.”
Key #25 – Don’t worry about inspiration.
“If you’re looking at a blank piece of paper and nothing comes to you, then go do something else. Writer’s block is just a symptom of feeling like you have nothing to say, combined with the rather weird idea that you should feel the need to say something.”
This book is based on the author’s very popular blog post, How to Be Creative, which can be downloaded for free in this nicely designed PDF. I highly recommend that you check it out. :)
Do ya’ll have of list of key things or manifesto that help you live your life as a creative person?
I’ve never heard of this book, really interesting!
I love the point about not worrying about inspiration. I had a friend growing up who was incredibly creative, and I was always so jealous of that, and worried as a writer I could never live up. Over time I’ve come to realize we each have our own creativity, and while I wouldn’t call my thoughts zany, they’re entirely individual, and creative in their own way.
I haven’t heard of this book or the blog post that spawned it, so thanks for pointing it out! I’m going to read the whole thing, but those points you highlighted are awesome. It’s so true that writing is hard freaking work, man, and unless you put in the hours, you’re not going to reap the reward. So true.
That sounds like a great book. I saw the blog post; what a super creative idea turning it into a book!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. :) I’m also a big fan of the 10K rule as well. Most overnight successes you hear about really aren’t that at all. They usually don’t show the years of “work” the artist put in before hand.
I had never heard of it either so I was really happy when I stumbled across it in my public library. Yes, every one is creative in their own way — it’s what’s makes us unique.
Ha, ha. No comment on the zany thoughts.
You should definitely check out the PDF. I love the way they did the formatting. I downloaded it to my IPad. Love the author’s sense of humor.
The blog post is super duper popular. I’m so glad that I found out about it. So many things to think about for having a creative life.
I think you will really enjoy this one. You should go and download the PDF as well. Great layout and formatting. Something you’ll want to add to your craft/inspirational toolbox.