woooould we call her an artist?
Does the Muse like you more if you’re wearing lipstick? Liz Gilbert thinks so. Eleven books on creative work.
Considering yourself an artist can be uncomfortable. Telling other people you're an artist can feel borderline preposterous.
Hi, I'm Meredith. I'm an agency founder. A marketer. A writer, and a podcast host. And, well, (ok deep breath) I’m an artist.
Did you cringe as you read that? Because - let me tell you - I cringed while writing it.
But believing you’re a creative person - or at least permitting yourself to consider that it could be true, and then committing to nurturing your creativity - can be a deeply expansive experience. (At least it has been so for me.)
Here are 11 of my favorite books on creative work. If you’re thinking about exploring your creativity in 2024, I bet you’ll find them relevant, too.
1. The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
“I set out to write a book about what to do to make a great work of art. Instead, it revealed itself to be a book on how to be.” - Rick Rubin
I know. I know. Everyone has already recommended this book. But I love it so much, and I want to keep talking about it. Reading and re-reading it has helped me better connect with my true self.
This book has made me committed to listening more attentively to my inner voice, and more deeply trusting my own taste and instincts.
2. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.
Julia Cameron. Icon. She of the Morning Pages. This is both a workbook and a manifesto. I feel kind of ridiculous trying to summarize such a classic, seminal book. Just grab your Higher Power and check it out.
3. A Swim in a Pond In the Rain by George Saunders
For more than 20 years, George Saunders has taught a class on the Russian short story to MFA students at Syracuse University. This book offers a version of that class as it unpacks a few stories by Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Gogol.
On the surface it’s less woo than #1 or #2 on this list - and more focused on the technical details of craft and story structure. Luckily, it’s also very funny. Anyone who works in copywriting or storytelling will likely find it interesting, actionable, and inspiring.
4. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Andrea Isabelle Lucas recommended this in her Content People interview (here) and I promptly devoured it. The book examines the energetic resistance that hounds artists, writers, and entrepreneurs, and preaches a mix of creative discipline and faith in the forces that support great work.
5. On Writing by Stephen King
You probably know this one, but I couldn’t leave it off. It’s a classic of the genre. Part memoir, part how-to. Stephen King talks about his creative process, his productivity (long walks, no TV, lots of writing), and his perspective on plotting or outlining a novel (both a hard no for him).
6. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Does the Muse like you more if you’re wearing lipstick? Liz Gilbert thinks so. Funny, charming, a little woo, and full of tough love about Doing The Work - this is a great read.
7. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Ok so this is what that Ted Lasso line was referencing. The gist of Bird by Bird: One step at a time. When facing creative overwhelm, just take small steps in the right direction. One word. One sentence. One paragraph. You get it.
8. Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
This is a good companion read to Big Magic or The Artist’s Way. Akin to Julia Cameron’s morning pages, Natalie Goldberg urges you to journal like a goddamn maniac. She wants us writing At All Times. Or at least daily. Natalie believes that if you focus on output/quantity, eventually, what you need to say will become clear.
In particular, I like her advice for working through topics, ideas, or situations you’re stuck on: Commit to freewriting on the subject for a set amount of time per day for at least 10 days. Your ideas will crystalize and insights will rise to the surface.
9 and 10. The Power of Habit and/or Atomic Habits
“The Muse visits during the act of creation, not before. Don't wait for her. Start alone.” - Roger Ebert
Nearly every book I’ve listed so far extolls the benefits of a daily creative habit. These two books aren’t about creativity or writing - but they could be useful in building a disciplined routine that supports your creative endeavors. I liked them both very much.
11. The Mindful Athlete by George Mumford
My one criticism of The Mindful Athlete, which I love and have read several times, is that its title is misleading. While George Mumford has worked with many great athletes - from Michael Jordan to Kobe Bryant - the book is really about mindset, mindfulness, and achieving flow state. Three things that any creative person might find useful.
Any additional recs? Reply back or lmk in the comments if you’d add something to this list.
PS. Stay tuned for our next send. We kick off Season 3 of Content People on Friday - and our first guest is the prolific Jessica DeFino. She offered up the strategy and creative process behind her newsletter The Unpublishable, which has nearly 100K subscribers.
I'm hoping the just released book 1000 Words by @jamiattenberg will be another one to add to the list once it starts making the rounds.
So real, I love it! Here's to being artists 👏🏽