Posted on Madam Mayo blog on February 8, 2021, the list on this page includes updates.
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Herewith, my list of recommended books on the creative process. May they prove as useful and inspiring for you as they have been for me. By the way, many of these books are not about creative writing per se. As writers we can learn not only from other writers, but from painters, filmmakers, musicians, athletes, computer science professors— in sum, anyone who sets out to do, and keep on doing, extraordinary things when the world, alas, does not always respond in a timely nor generous manner.
TOP PICKS ON CREATIVE PROCESS
*Gilbert, Elizabeth. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
Wondrously, brilliantly wonderful.
*Newport, Cal, Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World.
Outstanding and oftentimes surprising advice from a successful academic and best-selling author. Read my post about this book here.
—— Digital Minimalism
Ye Bible.
*Pressfield, Steven, The War of Art: Winning the Creative Battle
The best. If you’re blocked and you want to buy one book to help yourself, this is the one. P.S. be sure to check out his website and blog.
*Ricco, Gabriele Lusser, Writing the Natural Way: Using Right-Brain Techniques to Release Your Expressive Powers
Revolutionary.
AND BY THE WAY,
THIS IS WHAT I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT CREATIVE PROCESS
(NOT A BOOK BUT THE TRANSCRIPT OF A TALK):
*Mayo, C.M. “On Seeing as an Artist or, Five Techniques for a Journey to Einfuhlung.”
Not a book but a transcript of remarks for the panel on “Writing Across Borders and Cultures,” Women Writing the West conference, Santa Fe, New Mexico, October 15, 2016.
MORE RECOMMENDED READING:
Brown, Rita Mae: Starting From Scratch: A Different Kind of Writer’s Manual
Burnham, Sophy, For Writers Only
Easy to dip into. Wise words.
Baum, Kenneth, The Mental Edge: Maximize Your Sports Potential
with the Mind-Body Connection
Benke, Karen, Rip the Page! Adventures in Creative Writing
For creative children— of all ages. Read her guest-blog post for “Madam Mayo” here. (Link goes to old blogger platform, will be corrected shortly.)
Cameron, Julia, The Artist’s Way
New Agey (and so not for everyone) but also highly practical. Her concept of the “artist date” I have found brilliantly effective.
— , The Sound of Paper: Starting from Scratch
Thoughtful, elegant, and inspiring mini-essays.
Dillard, Annie, Living by Fiction
A book about the world.
Flack, Audrey, Art & Soul: Notes on Creating
Deep. The artist as shaman.
Friedman, Bonnie, Writing Past Dark: Envy, Fear, Distraction, and Other Dilemmas in the Writer’s Life
From the trenches.
Goldberg, Natalie, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
A very popular book. Packed with fun writing exercises.
Iglesias, Karl, The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters: Insider Tips from Hollywood’s Top Writers
Useful tips for any writer.
Kingston, Karen, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui
Because… maybe… that’s what you need to do!
Lamott, Anne, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
Hilarious. For anyone at any stage in their writing.
Laurie, Duncan, The Secret Art: A Brief History of Radionic Technology for the Creative Individual
Caveat: If you’re into scientism this will give you mega-cooties.
Leonard, George, Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment
Zen.
Maisel, Eric, PhD., Fearless Creating: A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting and Completing Your Work of Art
Dr Maisel specializes in helping artists, and he’s a prolific writer himself. Wise advice.
Palmer, Amanda, The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help
It might seem that this book is about about asking for help and money and then, as Palmer puts it, “taking the donuts,” but it’s really about the artist as shaman.
Rattner, Donald M. My Creative Space: How to Design Your Home to Stimulate Ideas and Spark Innovation
Read my post about this book here.
Rhodes, Richard, How to Write: Advice and Reflections
Good advice from a highly accomplished and prolific writer.
See, Carolyn, Making a Literary Life
Good advice from another highly accomplished and prolific writer — this one from LA. It’s a hoot.
Soojung-Kim Pang, Alex, Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less
Read my post about this book here.
Ueland, Brenda, If You Want to Write: A Book About Art, Independence and Spirit
A classic that has proven especially popular with my writing workshop participants.
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