The Habit of Creativity
Posted on | April 11, 2010 | 10 Comments
In my post of yesterday, @MyWebGal (Deb Augur) mentioned a quote she loved, but didn’t know where she had heard it; “Creativity is not a gift. It’s a habit.” I liked it so much I decided to look it up. It is from Twyla Tharp. In her book The Creative Habit
The habit of creativity is not difficult to cultivate. It is about training yourself to see, training yourself to listen and feel. There are people, of course, who have a natural facility for it just as there are those with a natural facility for movement or for eloquent speech, but anyone can develop it by spending a few moments every day simply observing, then observing their own observations. Creative leaps, those moments when something absolutely new seems to appear from out of nowhere, when a connection is suddenly made between two disparate things, are actually well prepared for even if that preparation is sub- or unconscious. Making it a conscious process gives you control over it, responsibility for it.
There are many who would not want the responsibility for their own creativity, but even that can be circumvented by engendering a habit of making things. Making anything. And doing it regularly.
Specifically for a writer, that habit can be developed by writing. Not by writing anything worthwhile or writing anything necessarily powerful or brilliant, but by writing. Writing anything and doing it regularly. Observe, then write what you have observed. Experience, then write what you have experienced. Contemplate, then write what you have contemplated. Do things, then write about what you have done.
Creativity is not a gift from the gods. It is not a divine spark. When it becomes a habit, it just seems that way.
~Geoff Hoff
Co-author of the how-to guide On Writing a Short Story.
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April 11th, 2010 @ 11:37 am
[...] The Habit of Creativity | Tips On Writing [...]
April 11th, 2010 @ 12:21 pm
Hi Geoff,
Absolutely beautiful post and you’re so right! It was Twyla Tharp that was quoted. Thanks for the reminder. Her book is even in my “wishlist” at Amazon for my next round of purchases.
I’m even more excited to get it now.
Thanks again for the post and for the mention in it! You made my day!
Deb
.-= Deb´s last blog ..Netscape Navigator and FutureOne =-.
April 11th, 2010 @ 12:33 pm
[...] I just read Geoff Hoff’s blog post for today about creativity. I highly suggest you read it because he writes much more [...]
April 11th, 2010 @ 12:35 pm
April 12th, 2010 @ 2:44 am
Hi Geoff, I found you via Connie’s 30 day blogging challenge – another good habit to cultivate. When I first started writing my blog, I found it very difficult, but as I progressed and made it a habit, the creativity did flow. The same happened with writing ezine articles. It took a little while to get into the habit, but there is a format and a sequence and as long as I follow it on a regular basis, it becomes easier and my ideas flow. Your post is beautifully written – thank you, Heather x
April 12th, 2010 @ 7:27 am
sometimes I get done writing an article or a blog post and think, where did that come from? Just starting to type sometimes my fingers take over and my active brain just seems along for the ride.
.-= Rob Britt´s last blog ..High Intensity Interval Training and The “Fartlek” =-.
April 12th, 2010 @ 8:12 am
Rob – thanks for your note! Yes, it’s wonderful when things just seem to flow. It’s a state of creativity we can cultivate! And when we’re in the habit, on days when it isn’t “just flowing” we can still write.
April 12th, 2010 @ 8:14 am
Heather – Yes, the last blog challenge was an incredible experience. Making myself write every day was an eye opener. I was already a fairly disciplined writer, but that was a whole new level.
April 14th, 2010 @ 4:14 pm
I love anything that has to do with the word habit but creativity is one of the greats! A product I am working on has a chapter about creativity and I love the quote you and Deb share, hope it is okay that I’ll be using it too. I hear so many people jump to say they are not creative and that bothers me. This is what I think… If you believe you are not creative, then you are not.. so believe you are and see what happens! It starts with that belief and it takes off by taking little steps down any creative path. Think out side the box, look at different magazines, take a new class… creativity is everywhere we look! It is an important characteristic! I’d almost go so far as to say the opposite of creative is boring!! Don’t be boring when you could be creative!! Thanks Geoff, another excellent post for the #blog30 challenge!!
xox
Helen
.-= Helen Raptoplous´s last blog ..Welcome!! =-.
April 14th, 2010 @ 4:52 pm
Helen – I am fascinated that your new project has a chapter on creativity. I’m glad you found something here you could use!
Geoff