Creative Is a Verb: If You're Alive, You're Creative

by Patti Digh

Following up on her successful Life Is a Verb, and in the tradition of Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, Patti Digh here presents a book that leads readers by both heart and head to acknowledge, reinforce, and use their own creative spirit. Creative Is a Verb is equally a book for people who say, “I’m not creative” or “I’m just a dabbler” or “I’m an artist.”

Genres: Art, Self Help, Nonfiction, Writing, Creative, Personal Growth, Crafts

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

"If the Buddha had two kids, a dog named Blue, a Southern accent, and a huge crush on Johnny Depp, his name would be Patti Digh," wrote one reviewer after Digh's grassroots bestseller, Life Is a Verb, was published. In 2003, Patti Digh's stepfather was diagnosed with lung cancer and died just 37 days later. She woke up on day 38 and asked herself a question that she has asked every morning since: "What would I be doing today if I only had 37 days to live?"

Patti's award-winning blog, 37days.com, emerged from the lessons she learned by asking that question and soon the essays were crafted into the bestselling book LIFE IS A VERB: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally. Patti has since written FOUR-WORD SELF-HELP: Simple Wisdom for Complex Lives, CREATIVE IS A VERB: If You're Alive, You're Creative, and WHAT I WISH FOR YOU: Simple Wisdom for a Happy Life.

Her newest book, The GEOGRAPHY OF LOSS, comes out January 2013. In the tradition of her other releases, Geography of Loss will also be beautifully illustrated by readers. This unique book will serve as a guide to help readers Embrace What Is, Honor What Was and Love What Will Be.

In addition to her writing, Patti is a co-founder of an international consulting firm focused on re-imagining K-12 education. Patti is also a sought after Keynote speaker. Audiences come away from her speeches both laughing and crying, and with a clearer sense of what's important in their own lives.

Patti and her family live (intentionally) in the serene mountain town of Asheville, NC.
www.37days.com

Reviews

[Debbie Hoskins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This only took me 5 months to read. It is a book to read slowly and savor. Definitely a book to buy and write in the margins. My expectations were high for this book. I wanted to be inspired. The book is nicely designed. The photographs and illustrations are interesting, sometimes funny, and thought-provoking. Writing style is excellent. Content is good. She suggests taking away the word "try" and "lick the art." Although I first ran into the wisdom from my husband's cousin's chain e-mail, I like her point that people don't remember achievements, accolades and awards - like the last five people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize. But we do remember teachers who have taught us something worthwhile, friends who have helped us through a difficult time, and people who have made us feel appreciated and special. She has a lot of writing and picture prompts that resulted in some postcard size pieces that I'm proud of. I have incorporated her suggestion to do an inch of coloring into a regular routine that I do at the end of the day.

[JoAnn J. A. Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outrageously good book on getting out of your way and creating in your life. The book is well written and beautiful and will get you working through exercises and inspiration. The author is so encouraging and makes wonderful suggestions on how to move into a more creatively productive life.

If you need to jump start your artistic or writing self, read this book. It is awesome.

[Tresha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have two miniature art quilts in this book! The Button Canoe quilt (page 73) and the Waterfall quilt (page 185).

[Sandy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually wasn't sure whether to give this 3 or 4 stars. I finally decided on 4 stars because I did really enjoy reading it. 3 stars would have rated how helpful I have found it in terms of my relationship with my own creativity. To be fair, however, I've read several books on creativity over the years so in terms of advice, something would need to work hard at this point for it to stand out for me. I didn't find the types of exercises she suggested particularly useful compared to Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, for example--I got a lot more out of working my way through that book. However, Patti Digh's writing, her stories, her quotations...that was all a very good read. I underlined quite a bit and will be reflecting further on her points in my own way.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! Patti leaves no doubt that we are ALL creative beings and gives great suggestions as to what to do about it!

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

"This book is about fully owning our innate creative spirit again. Not necessarily to call ourselves artists or writers, but to see our lives as creative. Not necessarily to make a living as an artist or writer, but to free ourselves up to say what we most long to say, to paint what we alone see in this vast incredible world, to build artful and joyous relationships, to leave a legacy of color and form and laughter in our wake... What would happen if we fully owned that we are creative beings, whether or not we will ever call ourselves writers or artists? Whether or not we ever pick up a quill pen or brush or camera? Whether or not we ever show anyone our art, sell any of it, or create something fantastically unique? What if we owned that making dinner was a fully creative act?"
Introduction - pg. ix

An Inspiring, Insightful and Empowering examination of Living a Creative Life. It's overflowing with color, quotes, art, poems, and at the end of each chapter, 10-minute challenges and 37-day exercises to build those Creative muscles. Patti shares stories from her own Creative Journey in order to explore the many disconnects we've all been subjected to through socialization and ultimately an inherent misinterpretation of Artist and Creative. For me, there was a touch of repetitiveness, which if eliminated would allow this book to be an even more invaluable resource. However, the myriad benefits to be gained from this work far outweigh any concerns. And as Maya Angelou said; "Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the sooner we will be able to treat life as art."

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book. If you haven't read much about creativity and the artistic life and process, this is a great book to start with. If you HAVE read reasonably extensively on the subject, you'll find there's not much here that's actually new. Digh suggests variations on some on fairly typical activities that can bring at least some new eyes to a project. The book is well written, accessible, colorful, and all-around an easy and fun read.

Let me stress: If you're looking for a first book (or even second) on creativity and art (including writing), you could do far worse than to start with "Creative is a Verb."

[Sarah W Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I am inspired to live a more creative life. I only completed some of the challenges as I read through the first time, but I am going to return to the 37 day ones and take on 3 for this summer. I added 3 additional books to my reading list based on quotes and stories from this work.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The vignettes in this book are such small gems of pleasure, I could pick it up and fan to any page to find a beautiful phase complimented with joyful imagery. It makes me want to be more of myself, and I can't wait to share it with my writing students.

[Doni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a rich, beautiful book that is filled with a lifetime of inspiration that can only be mined with many re-readings. Patti is amazing at plumbing metaphors for their hidden lessons and turning them into challenges for the reader.

[Roxanne]

This book is very beautiful, visually, and it’s full of interesting stories - but it’s so long! I read through page 136 (of 209) and I feel like I just can’t read another page. Maybe I’ll come back to it, but I think I may have learned what this book has to teach me.

[Mimi Mindful · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patti states: if you're alive, you're creative.

I agree.

Patti leads readers by both heart and head to acknowledge, reinforce, and use their own creative spirit.

Creative Is a Verb is equally a book for people who say, “I’m not creative” or “I’m just a dabbler” or “I’m an artist.”

[CharityJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little too homey/folksy for me.

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book. Lots of good quotes from all kinds of people scattered thru the pages. Lots of the author's life stories about herself or her kids, and they all end with some something about breaking the rules, following your own path, everyone is an artist in their own way, just do it, stop making excuses like not having the time or the right materials or any ideas, open your world up, see more of what's right in front of you, start right now, use your fear, ignore the critics, be yourself, get out of your own way, etc etc etc. I wanted to love the book and refer to it over and over again, but it just didn't strike me as anything I'd really go back to, altho its meant to be completely encouraging and most people seem to be crazy over it. I do think that everyone is creative if they just dig into themselves a little and find something they love, so I appreciate the author's intention.

My favorite quote, right in the beginning, was: "The artist is not a special kind of person; rather each person is a special kind of artist." by Ananda Coomaraswamy. That kind of says it all in a nutshell.

[Weegee Sachtjen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful book about tapping into your creative side. It offers little challenges or craft projects at the end of each chapter. Each chapter is a story about how she began to see or was offtered a different perspective in life. Her tales were encouraging and gives one the chance to view things in ones own immediate world through different eyes.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only had 2 weeks with this book so it ended up that I rushed through it towards the end. Life is a Verb is one I really liked, and this one is similar and yet takes the reader in a different direction. There is a fair amount of humorous tidbits in it especially about the kids. My favorite suggestion was to drop "I'll try" and stick with will or won't.

[Anna Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gotta love creativity!

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of good information presented in a fun and visual manner. This will be a book I refer back to often.

[Lf · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderfully fun and helpful for joyfilled living :)

[Elizabeth Berrien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspirational and uplifting. So glad I added this to my "creative" collection! I love the realness and honesty in her approach.

[Kaye Dewar · Rating 4 out of 5]

An orderly approach to creative actions

[Cheryl Ratcliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Beautiful book. One i will want to revisit more than once!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book!

[Clarac]

This book/philosophy is inspiring. I've started it again.

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gift from Brad.

Read slowly to let it soak in.

[Kati · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting quotes but largely useless and redundant "advice"