The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life

Twyla Tharp

Mar 2009 · Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

One of the world’s leading creative artists, choreographers, and creator of the smash-hit Broadway show, Movin’ Out, shares her secrets for developing and honing your creative talents—at once prescriptive and inspirational, a book to stand alongside The Artist’s Way and Bird by Bird.

All it takes to make creativity a part of your life is the willingness to make it a habit. It is the product of preparation and effort, and is within reach of everyone. Whether you are a painter, musician, businessperson, or simply an individual yearning to put your creativity to use, The Creative Habit provides you with thirty-two practical exercises based on the lessons Twyla Tharp has learned in her remarkable thirty-five-year career.

In "Where's Your Pencil?" Tharp reminds you to observe the world -- and get it down on paper. In "Coins and Chaos," she gives you an easy way to restore order and peace. In "Do a Verb," she turns your mind and body into coworkers. In "Build a Bridge to the Next Day," she shows you how to clean the clutter from your mind overnight.

Tharp leads you through the painful first steps of scratching for ideas, finding the spine of your work, and getting out of ruts and into productive grooves. The wide-open realm of possibilities can be energizing, and Twyla Tharp explains how to take a deep breath and begin...

Ratings and reviews

I decided to read this book because even though I’m an art major, at times I feel I’m just not that creative. However, this book didn’t reveal anything new to me. Instead it just reemphasized what I already knew to be true. The key message is that you just have to do more of what you want to do in order to be successful. You must make it a habit to practice your chosen craft be it dancing, painting, composing music, etc, a little bit everyday. This is easier said than done. Hence the remainder of the book deals with the processes involved with helping to form habits in your chosen genre. The book did have some insightful stories and quotes into people’s lives of dedication. One such the book focused on was Mozart. The book explained how it took so much time and work for him to become proficient in creating his masterpieces. From this example we are encouraged creative success through dedication and hard work. The book gives examples of men and women who have been successful dedicating their lives to their chosen craft. However, it soon became apparent to me that the cost involved to have creative success might be more than most people are able to give. The time involved and dedicated to the perfecting of one’s craft might be the main distinguishing factor between the elite and the mediocre. In conclusion, the book issues some ideas to make your habit forming more productive such as setting aside the same time everyday to engage in your craft, or giving yourself some sort of reward for your diligence. However in the end the message is clear. For those who are struggling with the feeling of being challenged creatively the ultimate key to success the book presents emphatically follows the old adage, practice makes perfect.

Every person should purchase this book in all possible formats. The tips (habits) can be applied at any stage of life. It is extremely helpful during difficult times within a persons career. Unlike quick read self help guides, Tharp is able to convey the quality that one can achieve with dedicated time and concentration. Excellent.

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About the author

Twyla Tharp, one of America’s greatest choreographers began her career in 1965, and has created more than 130 dances for her company as well as for the Joffrey Ballet, the New York City Ballet, the Paris Opera Ballet, London’s Royal Ballet, Denmark’s Royal Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. She has won two Emmy Awards for television’s Baryshnikov by Tharp, and a Tony Award for the Broadway musical Movin’ Out. The recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 1993 and was made an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1997. She holds nineteen honorary degrees, most recently from Harvard University. She lives and works in New York City.