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Getting Creative: Developing Creative Habits that Work by Drew Kimble
Plan. Fail. Repeat How does anyone have the time and energy to work on their creative projects after coming home from work, catching up on chores, and putting the kids to bed? Do these people really have more self-discipline and motivation than the rest of us, or is this just a bunch of crap that we tell ourselves to make us feel better? Are you one of us? If you are already a wildly successful writer, photographer, or visual artist who has more time than you know what to do with—this book probably isn’t for you. This book is for the rest of us who are frantically scurrying about our daily lives trying to juggle our kids, work schedule, and family responsibilities while still trying to find a few spare moments each day to do our creative thing. Creativity isn’t as easy as it looks Unfortunately, creativity isn’t some type of switch that you can simply turn on and off at random moments throughout the day. Sitting down to write isn’t like throwing in a load of laundry or checking your email, where if you have a few spare minutes, you can still get something accomplished. In this book, you'll learn how to build real-world creative habits that work for you. You will also discover... Why being motivated and having self-discipline isn’t enough What habits can (and can’t) do for you Why getting started is often the hardest part How to find and use your creative triggers Why setting big goals for yourself is often a mistake How to successfully manage your creative environment The crucial difference between a goal and having a creative practice How to hold yourself accountable without beating yourself up Are you ready to get started?
- GenresArtNonfiction
Paperback
First published October 13, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 26, 2017
A fantastic book providing great pointers/ground rules for developing creative habits - expect less, set an easy routine, take baby steps, find your triggers and set it in motion - Life is not about getting to the top but it's about making a steady enjoyable progress.
How we spend our days is how we spend our lives - hats off!
How we spend our days is how we spend our lives - hats off!
September 12, 2019
Loved it!
Amazing book with easy to follow and implement suggestions. I loved the way he used his personal examples to express the ideas.
Amazing book with easy to follow and implement suggestions. I loved the way he used his personal examples to express the ideas.
March 7, 2021
Different Perspective
I appreciate the different spin on how to make your creative practice more of a small doable thing rather than a grand goal.
I appreciate the different spin on how to make your creative practice more of a small doable thing rather than a grand goal.
September 21, 2016
Gentle, sensible advice for establishing a daily habit of creative activity - and making the habit stick. In a nutshell: set the bar so low you can't fail; focus on process, not product; set up triggers and rewards; reserve times and places for your habit that will actually work with your life.
This all seems like helpful advice for perfectionists or those who are prone to feel discouraged by failure. By the same token, this book doesn't really speak to the kinds of people who prefer to strive after grandiose, virtually unreachable goals, and who feel motivated rather than fazed by repeated failures.
This all seems like helpful advice for perfectionists or those who are prone to feel discouraged by failure. By the same token, this book doesn't really speak to the kinds of people who prefer to strive after grandiose, virtually unreachable goals, and who feel motivated rather than fazed by repeated failures.
April 9, 2016
1. Getting Creative: Developing Creative Habits that Work by Drew Kimble is a short, nonfiction book about how you can get more done in your creative life if you develop habits that boost your productivity and are easy to maintain.
2. While these tips for developing your own creative habits can be used anywhere, they are especially helpful for writers because a lot of Drew's examples that he uses throughout the book are writing oriented. I definitely think that any writer, artist, or creative type can gain insight from this book though.
3. One of the big reasons why I enjoyed this book so much is that in a way, Drew urges us to pace ourselves. He points out that it's really easy to start a project all gung ho and let it fall to the wayside. But throughout the book, he shows us that setting little daily (or weekly or monthly) goals for yourself is the best because that way you can keep achieving your goals over and over again.
4. He really dives into the reasoning behind goal setting and I think that's really important! Sometimes we don't know what's stopping us. Take this quote from earlier on in the book:
"We hate that feeling of pain and awkwardness, which is why we do everything we can to avoid it at all costs. One of the first questions we ask ourselves before we attempt to do something is, Is this going to hurt or make me look like a complete idiot?"
We shouldn't feel that way! And that's what Drew is trying to teach us. If we set little, manageable goals for ourselves we can still get things done but also stay realistic.
5. Last but not least, I really liked the focus on having a creative space and a creative ritual. I have to agree with some of the artists/writers that he mentioned talking to. I am definitely one of those people who once they get a mug off coffee in their hand, it's TIME TO WRITE!
To get your own copy, click here.
Take care,
Marian
2. While these tips for developing your own creative habits can be used anywhere, they are especially helpful for writers because a lot of Drew's examples that he uses throughout the book are writing oriented. I definitely think that any writer, artist, or creative type can gain insight from this book though.
3. One of the big reasons why I enjoyed this book so much is that in a way, Drew urges us to pace ourselves. He points out that it's really easy to start a project all gung ho and let it fall to the wayside. But throughout the book, he shows us that setting little daily (or weekly or monthly) goals for yourself is the best because that way you can keep achieving your goals over and over again.
4. He really dives into the reasoning behind goal setting and I think that's really important! Sometimes we don't know what's stopping us. Take this quote from earlier on in the book:
"We hate that feeling of pain and awkwardness, which is why we do everything we can to avoid it at all costs. One of the first questions we ask ourselves before we attempt to do something is, Is this going to hurt or make me look like a complete idiot?"
We shouldn't feel that way! And that's what Drew is trying to teach us. If we set little, manageable goals for ourselves we can still get things done but also stay realistic.
5. Last but not least, I really liked the focus on having a creative space and a creative ritual. I have to agree with some of the artists/writers that he mentioned talking to. I am definitely one of those people who once they get a mug off coffee in their hand, it's TIME TO WRITE!
To get your own copy, click here.
Take care,
Marian
October 25, 2016
Keep it simple and enjoy
Five star rating ! I found this book very helpful. I have used Drew's practical suggestions such as triggers and timed practice to help with my writing and artwork. Ten minutes practice for creative endeavors is habit forming and fun. I no longer berate myself for not writing or painting because I am writing and painting every day. I enjoy my practice and I am consistently creating without stress. Thank you Drew.
Five star rating ! I found this book very helpful. I have used Drew's practical suggestions such as triggers and timed practice to help with my writing and artwork. Ten minutes practice for creative endeavors is habit forming and fun. I no longer berate myself for not writing or painting because I am writing and painting every day. I enjoy my practice and I am consistently creating without stress. Thank you Drew.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews