Creativity for Life: Practical Advice on the Artist's Personality, and Career from America's Foremost Creativity Coach

by Eric Maisel

Over the years, Eric Maisel has worked with thousands of creative people, including writers, musicians, artists, dancers, and actors. He knows firsthand the struggles they must face, and through his many books and professional practice he’s helped them find balance in their lives while pursuing their artistic endeavors. Firmly grounded in psychology, Creativity for Life explores all the challenges confronting an deciding if you have talent (or if that’s even important); determining your level of commitment; pursuing stardom; honing your craft; overcoming blocks; taking care of the business end of your artistic life; finding your place in culture; coming out as an artist; finding love and friendship inside and out of your artistic community; and using your art to explore your inner life. A comprehensive approach to the much-misunderstood artist's life, this book, contains both nuts-and-bolts ideas and exercises and inspiration to nurture growth as an artist and a person. It includes update and expanded material from Maisel's Life in the Arts.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing, Art, Self Help, Psychology, Design

400 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2007

About the author

Eric Maisel, Ph.D., is the author of more than 40 books in the areas of creativity, coaching, mental health, and cultural trends. He is a psychotherapist and creativity coach, and writes for Psychology Today and Professional Artist Magazine and presents workshops internationally.

Reviews

[Lilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a digital artist, writer and poet. I know first hand the feeling of inspiration leaving you, of the muses going on an indefinite lunch break. I know the looks and opinions of people in your life, when you do wild things like I did, and quit your job to pursue your dreams. In this book, top creativity coach Eric Maisel, provides us with ideas, exercises and encouragement to help artists grow and become more balanced. He acts as our own personal therapist. Through this book, I found out, there is a method to my “madness” and I fully embrace it.

Eric touches on subject such as establishing a creativity practice, moods, relationships, blocks (which I benefited from most) and more. He brings compassion and sense to the wacky, often misunderstood life of artists, musicians, writers and thespians.

This book is something I recommend to every person facing creative endeavors.

[Darlene Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting book not so much about creativity but about what it's like to live the life of an artist. Supposedly designed as a help to those who are blocked, it has large sections about the kinds of problems artists face. I would have liked more prescription, but the author's thesis seems to be that analyzing and facing the exact nature of blocks make up the biggest part of the task of overcoming them. Once you have pinpointed the source of your fear/blockage, you use directed writing and goal-setting to overcome it. I liked this book as much for the way it identifies the problems particular to an artist's life and temperament, including personal relationships, fears about marketplace, etc.

[Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to help push your creative work beyond hobby level. Focuses on the basics of setting-up good work habits and discovering/dealing with the common bad habits and obstacles that prevent getting creative work done. What makes this book special is author's decades of work as a creativity coach.
At first I was annoyed a bit by the writing style - seemed to be too much a bunching together of notes and famous creative people's quotations. But overall each chapter was specific to what it was addressing and genuinely helpful.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting stuff about the creative process, issues artists face and artistic personalities. I found it to be part self-help, part analysis of creative people.

The author is a therapist, creativity coach, and writer. I'm really intrigued to learn more about his work, as I found this book to be very helpful and informative.

Other creative types could find this useful as well.

[Despanish · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a creative (and need to step it up after The Artist's Way) this is the book that will do it!

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read on ideas for creative types to stay motivated and inspired. Highly recommended!!

[Erika · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another book for the what-was-I-thinking shelf.

[Melissa Hazelwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pack with many ideas on how to approach life as a creative entity. Not just today, but tomorrow and for some time well into the future.

[La · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creativity for Life is a wonderful guidebook for the artist in search of self. I found several insights and techniques to push through moments of stagnation and frustration within these pages. His detailed account of the different issues any artist might confront in their lives, personalities, and environments certainly revealed much which might save an agonized moment, and certainly did for me.

I read this book from beginning to end, but now I know I will return to use the guided writing techniques when I can recognize issues appearing in my work. The lists of ten and nine and fifteen steps can be a little daunting, but I didn't find putting them into practice that difficult once I put my mind to it. Seeing them as a road to success and determination certainly helps (and having the occasional step being "take a vacation" and "silencing negative self-talk" alleviates the pressure).

This is a book which will remain in my library, probably with no dust able to settle into the corner where it lies.