I don’t actually have an experiment about creativity in the book, since creativity permeates the process of writing. It’s like water to a fish. But it seems worth exploring whether there are practices that can make our innate creativity more accessible. I am putting these under inspiration because in my mind, the discussion of creativity is very like the discussion of inspiration: It is not random and fleeting, and it can be intentionally cultivated.
- Donald Clifton and James K Harter, Investing in Strengths. In K. Cameron, J. Dutton, & R. Quinn, Positive Organizational Scholarship (pp. 111-121). Berrett Kohler, 2003.The point that I take from this chapter is that investing in strengths probably has more pay back than fixing weaknesses. Yes, there are some skills that are necessary. But keep your eyes open for ways that you are already strong or things that come naturally to you while writing. Keep them in mind and work to extend them.
- John Cleese, On Creativity. I am including this for fun. Why not learn about creativity from a Monty Python character?
- Andreason, Nancy C. The Creative Brain: The Science of Genius. A Plume Book, 2006.The main message I remember from this book is that creativity can be enhanced by opening up the connection between subconscious and conscious thinking. Many many times, relevant ideas bubble up from the subconscious collection of wisdom that we have gathered over our lifetimes. Find your own ways to let this bubbling up happen. Write Experiment includes one suggestion.
- Scott Barry Kaufman, Creativity Archives. Numerous podcasts of interviews on the subject of creativity.
