Writers: The Creative Habit

One of the best books I have read about creativity is The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp.

In this book, Tharp argues that being creative is a daily job. She questions the idea of genius and argues that the most creative people are the ones who developed a routine through discipline and hard work. In order to maintain the highest level of The Creative Habit creativity, one must develop the habit.

One of my favorite chapters is about “scratching.” Tharp knows that the big ideas don’t come as easily or as frequently as one would like. She suggests scratching for the little ideas that build into bigger ideas. Scratching is “like clawing at the side of a mountain to get a toehold, a grip, some sort of traction to keep moving upward and onward.”

She then offers examples of how a dancer, musician or filmmaker would scratch for an idea. Then she describes how to scratch for ideas effectively by generating an idea, retaining it, inspecting it and then transforming it.

Tharp goes into the most common ways to scratch for an idea: reading, everyday conversation, people’s handiwork, use the paradigm of a mentor or hero as a starting point, and watching nature.

At the end of the chapter, Tharp offers a few exercises to train our creativity and learn how to scratch for an idea.

And that is just one chapter! There are twelve chapters in all discussing everything from the importance of memory, sticking to the “spine” of your work and building creativity by mastering the underlying skills of your art.

I was surprised that I already used a few of Tharp’s exercises and tips. Some of her suggestions seem a bit out there, but she gives such a persuasive argument that I’m willing to give her ideas a try!

The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp is available in print and digital formats.

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