Today’s Best of 2009 Blog Challenge prompt is:

Insight or aha! moment. What was your epiphany of the year?

I’m going to share with you two of the most insightful books about the creative process that I’ve ever read.  It just so happens that I read them this year.

The insights I gained from reading these books are immeasurable.  Suffice it to say that they are the most underlined books I own.

If you’re interested in reading about the creative process from people who are extremely prolific and credible as artists (as opposed to people who just write about creativity, but you have no idea if they’ve ever really made anything), I highly recommend that you pick up these two books.  I’m certain that you’ll have your own insights and “aha! moments” if you read them.

The Creative Habit (Twyla Tharp)

This book is beautifully written.  I love Tharp’s no-nonsense approach to creative work.  There are so many books that fit into this genre – that kind of self-helpy, creative process stuff – but this is the only one I’ve ever seen that is written by someone who is as successful as Twyla Tharp.  And that’s what makes this book so special – it’s like taking private lessons from a master.

On Writing (Stephen King)

King also has a no-nonsense approach to the craft.

“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”

I found it fascinating to read about his process.

One of my favourite parts of the book is when he talks about having an “ideal reader.” For King, it’s his wife.  He wants to make her react – to laugh, to get scared, to love the story.

When you make your art, who do you make it for?

parallels

It’s no surprise that these two extremely successful artists would share many of the same ideas around creativity and craft.  For example:

• Tharp’s “creative DNA” and King’s “deep interests” – They both talk about the importance of noticing and pursuing those things that you’re obsessed with.  Everyone has things they are naturally, deeply interested in, and these are the things that make up your creative DNA as an artist.  There are themes in your work. These are your strengths.  Work on your strengths, not your weaknesses.

• ritual - Both Tharp and King stress that it’s essential to have rituals around creativity.  Tharp starts her day with a ritual that begins at 5 am.  King says: “Your job is to make sure the muse knows where you’re going to be everyday from 9-12 or 7-3″ (Oh – and by the way, King’s muse is a cigar chomping grumpy dude that lives in his figurative basement)

If you’re looking for insight into the creative process, I can’t recommend these books enough.