Marry Your Muse: Making a Lasting Commitment to Your Creativity

by Jan Phillips

Working and would-be writers, photographers, painters, journal keepers, sculptors, musicians, poets, and creative folk in every field will find inspiration and practical suggestions in this joyous book. This complete course in creative expression is based on Jan Phillips' smash "Marry Your Muse" workshops, and was chosen a Ben Franklin Award gold medal winner for 1997. In Part One, the stirring affirmations of The Artist's Creed empower us to become more confident and productive. In Part Two, anecdotes, photographs, quotations to ponder, fun and effective exercises help us discover a deep and satisfying form of self-expression. In Part Three, the heartful stories of working artists inspire us to fall in love with the artist within

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Creative

268 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

Reviews

[Mary K · Rating 3 out of 5]

It feels odd giving an award-winning book an average rating but there it is. I first read this book nearly 15 years ago and wrote on the inside cover the date I finished it and a quick comment: “SO helpful”. I was a new author at the time, had contracts for a book or two, and so this book WAS helpful - “what you want to create already exists within you”, “as you create, give thought to that which is before you”... pithy sayings that I loved, still love.

This time around I still found some beautiful thoughts and reminders of important stuff on creativity, but the book just didn’t do it for me 15 years later. Here’s why: 1. The book feels dated. So much of what was written is 25 years old and has now been said a jillion times. 2. The stilted language drove me nuts: “I am not writing to please or satisfy, but to express what I find deep within” and “no image of joy over past accomplishments rises up to shroud the barrenness ahead”, phrases like that. Maybe it’s just the author’s poetic style, but I wanted to rewrite the sentences using contractions and conversational language. 3. Far too much of the book was other people’s thoughts and words, including the entire final third of the book.

On the bright side, the photography was very beautiful and there were, as I said, some great writing reminders. While the style grated on me, the thoughts and ideas are still good. Too many writers don’t spend enough time going deeply into their subject and how it affects them personally and Phillips spends a lot of time reminding us of how important this is. My favorite paragraph, maybe, is this one: take an experience and go into it, “study it and find its jewel” - great advice. Sometimes you have to write to get to that place but too many authors aren’t taking the time or making the effort to get there at all.

[Jackie Law · Rating 3 out of 5]

A particular quote brought me to this book, and the cover (and price of used copy) nudged me to buy it. There were other quotes and a few gems scatter through out, but it didn't really grab me, possibly because it is similar to Julia' Cameron's work that I read years (decades) ago - as was this book (1997). The one quote was: "I learned to think of God as a woman and by that simple experiment I discovered I could begin to think of God." Jane O'Reilly p. 111 and I did appreciate its inclusion in the section called "Leaving the Chaos Behind." Now I think I'll try and find out more about Jane O'Reilly.

[Brianna Rush · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took this book out from the library as research for designing my own creativity book that in progress right now. I found the formatting of this book to be too much for my taste, way too much going on. It distracted from the message. I just wanted to put the book down. But... when I hung in there, her writing and insights on the creative muse are appreciated. I also loved her suggestions of music to listen to for certain moods. It's a book that can be picked up anytime, opened to any page for random inspiration.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great stuff about prioritizing your art.

[Marianne Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is now one of my favorite books on creativity. I loved the three different sections of the book and how thought provoking it was for me. Definitely one to reread!

[Cassie]

This book is best read when you need a spark of inspiration for any artsy endeavor that you seem to be stuck on. It can be read cover to cover or you can skip to certain chapters that pertain to you for that moment. On each page there are quotes from people across the board that are sure to motivate you. The go-home message is that anything you think of creating is worthy of being created; and anything you create is worthy of praise.

[Catharine · Rating 3 out of 5]

from the book: "I believe that if we really surrender ourselves to the work we most want to do and do it with all our heart, then in the act of letting go and following our passion we will find, not only great joy and release, but also the means to get by in life."

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring book that helps us get in touch with our creativity..

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Getting passed all the Goddess and sacred space is key to finding the gems in this book.