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Creative Demons and How to Slay Them
An inspirational guide to help creatives overcome obstacles and find success―filled with tips, anecdotes, and encouragement for anyone whose working life depends on imaginative thinking. If you have ever embarked on a creative endeavor then there’s a good chance that at some point during your journey you will have been paralyzed by the demons of self-doubt, fear of failure, or just lack of inspiration. Enter Creative Demons and How to Slay Them , where you will learn how to banish your mind-forged monsters, one by one, no matter how grotesque or scary they may seem to be. Creativity expert Richard Holman draws on inspirational anecdotes from science, art, history, philosophy, nature, music, and contemporary culture to provide you with your very own mental armor for every stage of the creative process. Discover how to fight off the demons of procrastination, the blank canvas, and distraction through the experiences of Leonardo da Vinci, John Steinbeck, Sister Corita Kent, Dr. Seuss, Yayoi Kusama, and many others. Then, once you have started, there are tips on how to avoid the issues that plague all creatives, from self-doubt or “playing it safe” to lack of resources. Using Hokusai, Alfred Hitchcock, and Herbie Hancock as case studies, Holman presents the necessary tools to handle criticism, disappointment, and any other bumps along the creative road. Say goodbye to your demons and make your next creative project better than you could have imagined. 50 illustrations
176 pages, Hardcover
Published April 5, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 4, 2025
This was really interesting and gave me a new perspective on being creative, particularly when it comes to my writing because I think everything I write is terrible the majority of the time. However I've put a lot of time into writing my first book (which is still incomplete) so I should be thinking about how I haven't given up on it. RTC.
June 28, 2026
I seriously cannot recommend this book enough to any creative mind out there. I picked this up on a whim because I was desperate since I was uninspired at work. Which is a problem as I work in a creative field.
This was like a breath of fresh air. I appreciate that each of these so called demons have purpose, and I can work with them in a different way. I walked away with a few ideas from the book and a few of my own (shout out to theft demon chapter!)
Richard, the author, was like a friend holding your hand telling you that everyone from Michelangelo to Dylan Thomas to John Steinbeck to the band Sour has gone through all of this. There’s a familiarity and camaraderie within this book, and I just felt seen and heard.
I’m not saying any of this earth shattering. I sat afterwards going “well, that makes sense, and I knew that..why didn’t I do that”. Sometimes, you may just need to see or hear it in a different format. Maybe it’s that’s dang conventional thinking.
Also, Al Murphy is a fantastic illustrator. He really brought these demons to life, and I loved them.
10/10 would recommend.
This was like a breath of fresh air. I appreciate that each of these so called demons have purpose, and I can work with them in a different way. I walked away with a few ideas from the book and a few of my own (shout out to theft demon chapter!)
Richard, the author, was like a friend holding your hand telling you that everyone from Michelangelo to Dylan Thomas to John Steinbeck to the band Sour has gone through all of this. There’s a familiarity and camaraderie within this book, and I just felt seen and heard.
I’m not saying any of this earth shattering. I sat afterwards going “well, that makes sense, and I knew that..why didn’t I do that”. Sometimes, you may just need to see or hear it in a different format. Maybe it’s that’s dang conventional thinking.
Also, Al Murphy is a fantastic illustrator. He really brought these demons to life, and I loved them.
10/10 would recommend.
August 9, 2025
Making art is hard. Creativity requires a certain level of dedication, vulnerability, and patience. So, of course, the journey can be filled with a complex mix of emotions like disappointment, fear, anxiety, and self-doubt (among many others)… This book is a very handy (and funny) field guide on that path. Holman names the demons that come for us all, as we attempt to express our creativity. His writing is clever, yet relatable and grounded — and the book is filled with illuminating stories from creative greats. It’s a very useful reminder that we do not travel alone on this road to self-expression. And one that I’d recommend to anyone undertaking any creative endeavor.
April 12, 2026
Creative Demons and How to Slay Them by Richard Holman is an hilarious but useful writing guide with psychological insights and information and quotes from famous writers dealing with one or some of these demons.
Here are the ten demons:
Procrastination
Blank Page
Doubt
Convention
Constraints
Criticism
Theft
Accidents
Failure
Disappointment.
Writing about each of the demons Holman draws on what is obviously a long history of not only dealing with, but reading about the demons writers must slay.
In The Demon of Procrastination, “You look around you at the creative works you admire – the novels, the plays, the movies, with all their exquisite detail and intricate refinement – and think it’s going to be too damn hard.”
In the chapter The Demon of the Blank Page he opens with a marvellous quote from Leonard Cohen: “If I knew where the good songs came from, I’d go there more often.”
In all the chapters not only are there snippets from Holman’s own experiences but from famous writers. As well as really helpful advice such as this from The Demon of Doubt: “Take heed of the Demon of Doubt too soon and he will derail your creative impulse and throw you off course. There is time for critical evaluation in the process of making, but it is much later than you might think.”
The Demon of Convention chapter caught my eye. I wondered what Holman meant by Convention. There is an interesting experiment called the Candle Experiment. I won’t repeat the details here but most people fail. He goes on to say:
“The candle problem is an eloquent illustration of how fixed we can become in our thinking and how hard it can be to disrupt the conventions that envelope our imagination over time...”
I won’t go into each chapter but you can see from the above that this is an inventive and useful guide to tackling the barriers to writing. Highly recommended.
Here are the ten demons:
Procrastination
Blank Page
Doubt
Convention
Constraints
Criticism
Theft
Accidents
Failure
Disappointment.
Writing about each of the demons Holman draws on what is obviously a long history of not only dealing with, but reading about the demons writers must slay.
In The Demon of Procrastination, “You look around you at the creative works you admire – the novels, the plays, the movies, with all their exquisite detail and intricate refinement – and think it’s going to be too damn hard.”
In the chapter The Demon of the Blank Page he opens with a marvellous quote from Leonard Cohen: “If I knew where the good songs came from, I’d go there more often.”
In all the chapters not only are there snippets from Holman’s own experiences but from famous writers. As well as really helpful advice such as this from The Demon of Doubt: “Take heed of the Demon of Doubt too soon and he will derail your creative impulse and throw you off course. There is time for critical evaluation in the process of making, but it is much later than you might think.”
The Demon of Convention chapter caught my eye. I wondered what Holman meant by Convention. There is an interesting experiment called the Candle Experiment. I won’t repeat the details here but most people fail. He goes on to say:
“The candle problem is an eloquent illustration of how fixed we can become in our thinking and how hard it can be to disrupt the conventions that envelope our imagination over time...”
I won’t go into each chapter but you can see from the above that this is an inventive and useful guide to tackling the barriers to writing. Highly recommended.
April 5, 2022
A beautifully illustrated and written book for anybody questioning their creativity. And if you are not ready to slay your creative demons you can certainly learn to live with them (Personally, i learned to appreciate mine and try and work with them...).
January 11, 2025
WOW! I read this book in one sitting. I'm in the midst of beginning a new journey; I'm one month into writing a weekly blog/newsletter called 'Round the Hearth. In such a short time, I've encountered all the creative demons found in this book.
What's surprising is how badly I want to read this book again. I want to go back and examine every reference and note by the author.
Each chapter is full of post it notes! I laughed out loud as I prepared to put a post-it note on the page describing the story of post-it notes.
This book captures the glorious struggle of doing the most creative thing: being human.
What's surprising is how badly I want to read this book again. I want to go back and examine every reference and note by the author.
Each chapter is full of post it notes! I laughed out loud as I prepared to put a post-it note on the page describing the story of post-it notes.
This book captures the glorious struggle of doing the most creative thing: being human.
November 2, 2022
Perfect inspiration going into NaNoWriMo 2022!
May 4, 2025
A very original book—the drawings add a nice touch, and I liked that the different types of fears were separated.
August 20, 2025
Inspiring, witty, encouraging! This is gorgeously written and takes you on a journey of creativity, but even though it focuses of creativity many aspects of the book can just be applied to life as it delves into the human mind and thought process.
Richard Holman introduces us to 10 demons. Demons we all know! Including experiences from renowned figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Dr. Seuss, Alfred Hitchcock, Maurice Sendak, etc. Holman situates us in a place of comfort as he describes relatable experiences where these 10 little demons filter through your mind. Although they are harmless, they can wreck havoc and cause a lot of damage. But although there is comfort in a shared unity of us all encountering demons, there is also something so individually encouraging.
"Remember that no matter how ill at ease you may feel with your own flaws and limitations, you are in a very privileged position. No other writer or artist sees the world as you do, because no other writer or artist is you. As Dr Seuss once sagely wrote, 'Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is youer than you!'"
The artwork throughout was just brilliant. The animated cartoonish pieces are doodled throughout and work well with the almost conversational tone, which is just welcoming and down to earth.
If you just need a bit of inspiration or something uplifting, this book perfectly meets those requirements. Although this book speaks of slaying your creative demons, it also exerts the necessity of harnessing them. For demons like so much, have good and bad, and as one of my favourite points of the book states: "Who's to say what's bad or good?"
For me, this book was just reassuring and relatable. Creative Demons will definitely be a book I'll visit every so often, and many of the words will linger with me for a long time to come. I'll definitely be saying 'hi' to my demons from now on.
Richard Holman introduces us to 10 demons. Demons we all know! Including experiences from renowned figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Dr. Seuss, Alfred Hitchcock, Maurice Sendak, etc. Holman situates us in a place of comfort as he describes relatable experiences where these 10 little demons filter through your mind. Although they are harmless, they can wreck havoc and cause a lot of damage. But although there is comfort in a shared unity of us all encountering demons, there is also something so individually encouraging.
"Remember that no matter how ill at ease you may feel with your own flaws and limitations, you are in a very privileged position. No other writer or artist sees the world as you do, because no other writer or artist is you. As Dr Seuss once sagely wrote, 'Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is youer than you!'"
The artwork throughout was just brilliant. The animated cartoonish pieces are doodled throughout and work well with the almost conversational tone, which is just welcoming and down to earth.
If you just need a bit of inspiration or something uplifting, this book perfectly meets those requirements. Although this book speaks of slaying your creative demons, it also exerts the necessity of harnessing them. For demons like so much, have good and bad, and as one of my favourite points of the book states: "Who's to say what's bad or good?"
For me, this book was just reassuring and relatable. Creative Demons will definitely be a book I'll visit every so often, and many of the words will linger with me for a long time to come. I'll definitely be saying 'hi' to my demons from now on.
June 20, 2026
Fantástico, muy ameno y entretenido.
Aparecen tantos demonios conocidos... el demonio de la procrastinación, el de la duda, de la crítica, de las limitaciones, del fracaso...
Me ha encantado reconocerlos por escrito, porque en cierto modo provoca bastante calma y autocompasión ver que (obviamente) no son nada personal y que sucede a tantísimas personas creativas.
El autor, además de describirlos, habla de cómo convivir con ellos, con propuestas sencillas que tendré que releer más veces para interiorizarlas y asimilarlas. Porque, como dice, no podemos luchar contra ellos, pero sí gestionar de otro modo el hecho de que estén con nosotros.
El libro contiene también anécdotas de artistas de distintas disciplinas (pintores, escritores, músicos...) que evidencian cómo estos demonios visitan también a los grandes creadores.
Los dibujos son muy divertidos y satíricos. Le aportan un punto muy fresco y además ayudan a reducir el carácter de amenaza de los demonios creativos, a dejar de verlos como algo peligroso sino como algo incluso ridículo. Me parece un acierto total.
"Quizá nunca se puede ser completamente original, pero alguien me dijo una vez que una gran obra es 'una verdad simple, contada de una manera sorprendente', y creo que ese es un objetivo excelente al que aspirar".
"Los fracasos son como una modesta planta silvestre. No es que sea una mala hierba; es simplemente que desentona con lo que queremos tener en el jardín. Un fracaso es solo un hecho como cualquier otro. Lo que lo convierte en un fracaso es que lo juzgamos desde la perspectiva limitada que tenemos en ese momento".
"En lugar de ver la carencia, busca la oportunidad. [...] Cuando dejas de resistirte a algo, eliminas el poder que tiene sobre ti. Cuanto más criticamos nuestra falta de tiempo, dinero o materiales, más grandes se vuelven las barreras. Cuanto antes las aceptemos tal como son, más rápido encontraremos una manera de sortearlas. Y por contradictorio que parezca, los investigadores han demostrado que, a medida que aumentan nuestras limitaciones, más creativos nos volvemos".
"El hecho de que puedas ver la brecha entre el potencial de tu idea y la falibilidad de tu ejecución demuestra que posees el juicio necesario para mejorar. Aunque quizás aún no tengas una solución para los defectos de tu trabajo, ser capaz de identificarlos es el primer paso para corregirlos. Por paradójico que parezca, el simple hecho de que el demonio de la decepción esté sentado contigo, ya sea en tu escritorio o en tu estudio, habla bien de ti. Como observa Anne Enright, ganadora del premio Booker: Solo los malos escritores creen que su trabajo es realmente bueno".
Aparecen tantos demonios conocidos... el demonio de la procrastinación, el de la duda, de la crítica, de las limitaciones, del fracaso...
Me ha encantado reconocerlos por escrito, porque en cierto modo provoca bastante calma y autocompasión ver que (obviamente) no son nada personal y que sucede a tantísimas personas creativas.
El autor, además de describirlos, habla de cómo convivir con ellos, con propuestas sencillas que tendré que releer más veces para interiorizarlas y asimilarlas. Porque, como dice, no podemos luchar contra ellos, pero sí gestionar de otro modo el hecho de que estén con nosotros.
El libro contiene también anécdotas de artistas de distintas disciplinas (pintores, escritores, músicos...) que evidencian cómo estos demonios visitan también a los grandes creadores.
Los dibujos son muy divertidos y satíricos. Le aportan un punto muy fresco y además ayudan a reducir el carácter de amenaza de los demonios creativos, a dejar de verlos como algo peligroso sino como algo incluso ridículo. Me parece un acierto total.
"Quizá nunca se puede ser completamente original, pero alguien me dijo una vez que una gran obra es 'una verdad simple, contada de una manera sorprendente', y creo que ese es un objetivo excelente al que aspirar".
"Los fracasos son como una modesta planta silvestre. No es que sea una mala hierba; es simplemente que desentona con lo que queremos tener en el jardín. Un fracaso es solo un hecho como cualquier otro. Lo que lo convierte en un fracaso es que lo juzgamos desde la perspectiva limitada que tenemos en ese momento".
"En lugar de ver la carencia, busca la oportunidad. [...] Cuando dejas de resistirte a algo, eliminas el poder que tiene sobre ti. Cuanto más criticamos nuestra falta de tiempo, dinero o materiales, más grandes se vuelven las barreras. Cuanto antes las aceptemos tal como son, más rápido encontraremos una manera de sortearlas. Y por contradictorio que parezca, los investigadores han demostrado que, a medida que aumentan nuestras limitaciones, más creativos nos volvemos".
"El hecho de que puedas ver la brecha entre el potencial de tu idea y la falibilidad de tu ejecución demuestra que posees el juicio necesario para mejorar. Aunque quizás aún no tengas una solución para los defectos de tu trabajo, ser capaz de identificarlos es el primer paso para corregirlos. Por paradójico que parezca, el simple hecho de que el demonio de la decepción esté sentado contigo, ya sea en tu escritorio o en tu estudio, habla bien de ti. Como observa Anne Enright, ganadora del premio Booker: Solo los malos escritores creen que su trabajo es realmente bueno".
January 5, 2026
This was a fun way to tackle the psychological obstacles we face on the creative path. It was quick, lighthearted and, for me, compulsively readable. It isn’t a super deep dive into each creative “demon” but gives the reader tips on ways to reframe and therefore deal with each creative demon. The examples and research drawn upon are a nice way to visualise the points being made, but it is worth remembering that this book isn’t about the exactness of those examples which I noted were not quite accurate on occasion (and it didn’t happen often as far as I can tell—probably just once or twice). For example, I’m pretty sure the details of Cecilia Giménez’s story as the commonly told version of that humorous story goes (and repeated here) is not exactly what actually happened. But each example served its purpose in this context to drive home the point about how to recognise and confront each creative demon. I think this is a very useful concisely written tool in the creative’s arsenal and would fit well alongside Austin Kleon’s trilogy and Andy J Pizza’s Creative Pep Talk podcast (all of which I’ve enjoyed).
November 4, 2025
Part of my illustrator research. I loved this book and I laughed out loud several times. Also very much love that anecdote about Hitchcock listening to his wife who saw a flaw in Psycho. Also the demon throwing the typewriter out the window made laugh to tears.
And this, which I fear is where I demon who lives in me:
"If only heaven will give me just another ten years, just another five more years, then I could become a real painter." ~Hokusai
And this, which I fear is where I demon who lives in me:
"If only heaven will give me just another ten years, just another five more years, then I could become a real painter." ~Hokusai
November 4, 2025
3.75
Nice little book
Nice little book
May 10, 2022
Greatly enjoyed this! A must read for writers and all creatives!
August 7, 2025
Increíble libro de consulta para baches creativos.
January 16, 2025
I loved it!
gave me new ideas and motivations to be more creative
gave me new ideas and motivations to be more creative
January 28, 2023
Interesting and enjoyable musings on the creative process. Will go back to this one many times.
January 16, 2024
This book is perfect encouragement and inspiration for every creative person out there.
It’s nice to be understood.
It’s nice to be understood.
June 13, 2026
Speaking as a creative person it’s real easy to get discouraged, have self-doubt, fear failure and have dry spells where ideas and inspiration seem to disappear.
Dealing with and overcoming what I call the ‘demons of discouragement’ can be a chore.
In Creative Demons And How To Slay Them is by Richard Holman and published by Thames & Hudson with illustrations by Al Murphy.
Inspired by tales of art, philosophy, neuroscience, music, nature and culture the author suits you up in strong mental armor so you can slay your own creativity demons.
Many famous creative folks provide some real-life learning experiences on how to overcome criticism. self-doubt and all the other little tricky obstacles creative demons deploy.
Hebrews 11:1 – 13:25
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Dealing with and overcoming what I call the ‘demons of discouragement’ can be a chore.
In Creative Demons And How To Slay Them is by Richard Holman and published by Thames & Hudson with illustrations by Al Murphy.
Inspired by tales of art, philosophy, neuroscience, music, nature and culture the author suits you up in strong mental armor so you can slay your own creativity demons.
Many famous creative folks provide some real-life learning experiences on how to overcome criticism. self-doubt and all the other little tricky obstacles creative demons deploy.
Hebrews 11:1 – 13:25
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
February 26, 2025
I'm so glad your creative demons didn't stop you from writing this book, Richard Holman! I have been reading a chapter each day before I sit down to write and I can't tell you how much it has helped motivate me to push on and find ways to work through all these creative demons that do indeed constantly pop up when I'm sitting at my computer, trying to get my ideas into a story. It is such an inspirational read, especially when you refer to brilliant, successful artists who struggled just as much. I will be re-reading this book many times to remind me I'm not alone in all my doubts and to just keep keeping on! Thank you for writing this book.
July 5, 2026
Un libro divertido en su concepto de tratar algunas de las trabas que nos ponemos a nosotros mismos, como esos diablillos del hombro izquierdo que nos taladran la oreja. Así al menos lo he sentido.
Me han gustado especialmente el de la crítica y la decepción, tal vez también porque lo he visto menos en otros libros similares. Aunque también habla de la duda, del robo o de las limitaciones propias y como saber aprovecharlas.
Y para acabar, trae unas recomendaciones de lectura adicionales, que siempre son de agradecer. Tienen mucho que ver con los temas que ha tratado o son las obras que ha mencionado.
Ojalá hubiese sido más largo en algunos capítulos, es la queja que le pongo :P
Me han gustado especialmente el de la crítica y la decepción, tal vez también porque lo he visto menos en otros libros similares. Aunque también habla de la duda, del robo o de las limitaciones propias y como saber aprovecharlas.
Y para acabar, trae unas recomendaciones de lectura adicionales, que siempre son de agradecer. Tienen mucho que ver con los temas que ha tratado o son las obras que ha mencionado.
Ojalá hubiese sido más largo en algunos capítulos, es la queja que le pongo :P
December 31, 2025
Autors ar smaidu un vienlaikus pavisam nopietni runā par dažādajiem dēmoniem, kas mums traucē paveikt savus darbus, īpaši - radošos. Prokrastinācija, šaubas, kritika, vilšanās un citi jauki zvēri. Tomēr ikvienam no viņiem ir arī noderīgā puse, kuru autors aicina izmantot lietderīgi un pareizajā momentā. Iedvesmojoši un praktiski ar interesantiem piemēriem no reālu cilvēku reālās dzīves. Turklāt ar izcilām Al Murphy ilustrācijām.
“And one of the truths of what it means to be human is that somewhere along the way, on our journey through life, we're bound to lose faith in ourselves.”
“And one of the truths of what it means to be human is that somewhere along the way, on our journey through life, we're bound to lose faith in ourselves.”
January 20, 2023
This book really connected with me, the chapters built up on each other and flowed nicely. The examples of famous figures feeling the exact same way I do makes me feel more connected to the community. The tips and different ways to view our demons is helpful to all creatives at any level. The Epilouge made me smile and appreciate this wonderful creation more. Seriously, with all my heart, this was amazing! <3
June 11, 2024
Looking back I find humor in how long I set this book down for, only to open it again and find myself on the chapter The Demon of Procrastination.
A great read for anyone creative or considering a creative endeavor. Scratch that, a great book full of reminders for anyone struggling to start or continue with something they really want to do, but find themselves in the spinning wheel of death. Fun, informative, relatable.
A great read for anyone creative or considering a creative endeavor. Scratch that, a great book full of reminders for anyone struggling to start or continue with something they really want to do, but find themselves in the spinning wheel of death. Fun, informative, relatable.
November 29, 2025
The first book i read in Spanish (got another one i started some time ago) and i have to say, if you are currently studying, or just want to brush up your skills, look no further.
As for the topics “demons of creativity”, it is also useful, cause some of us just need another perspective at times. A nudge to start creating what we thought about for some time, or to continue.
Good takeaways, fairly easy read.
As for the topics “demons of creativity”, it is also useful, cause some of us just need another perspective at times. A nudge to start creating what we thought about for some time, or to continue.
Good takeaways, fairly easy read.
February 12, 2025
Randomly found this book displayed at a public library, as someone who loves to write stories and art. I decided to give it a read. It was informative about all sorts of creative demons and fascinating stories about some of the well known creative minds throughout history handled each of the demons. But also useful tips. It was worth reading and highly recommend it to anyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2026
Muy ameno y útil para recargar pilas en medio de un bloqueo creativo. Habla de los miedos (aka demonios) que pensamos que solo sufrimos nosotros pero que en realidad, todos hemos sentido alguna vez en este camino creativo. Así que te visita alguno de ellos… salúdalos de mi parte :)
Ilustraciones topp y graciosas, y frases subrayadas para releer de vez en cuando!
Ilustraciones topp y graciosas, y frases subrayadas para releer de vez en cuando!
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April 18, 2026I’ve read quite a few books on creativity, writing, and craft, but this was one of my favourites. I think the best versions of these books tend to be the more compact, concise ones that often tell me what I already knew, on paper, but had forgotten to put to practice, or articulated a nebulous thought for me. This is also clearly well-researched and the illustrations make it very fun!
June 19, 2026
What a great book! At first, I was a little skeptical, but the first chapter already changed my mind.
The book is super easy to read, has spot-on references to the lives of famous creative people, and, most importantly, gets straight to the point. No unnecessary fluff, just an authentic perspective with a sprinkle of well-chosen examples.
The book is super easy to read, has spot-on references to the lives of famous creative people, and, most importantly, gets straight to the point. No unnecessary fluff, just an authentic perspective with a sprinkle of well-chosen examples.
July 31, 2022
I really appreciate the reframing of the challenges that comes with creativity. I think everyone deserves to see things from different perspectives for example as portrayed in this book. Definitely worth the read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews