“The Creative Habit” by Twyla Tharp is a book that provides practical advice for individuals who want to develop their creativity. Tharp, a renowned choreographer, shares her personal experiences and insights on how to cultivate creativity and make it a habit. The book is divided into chapters that cover various aspects of creativity, such as preparation, skill, and persistence.
“The Creative Habit” by Twyla Tharp is a practical guide for developing creativity as a habit. Tharp provides insights and advice based on her personal experiences as a choreographer, emphasizing the importance of preparation, skill, and persistence in creative work. The book also covers topics such as experimentation, collaboration, and the acceptance of mistakes and accidents as part of the creative process. Overall, “The Creative Habit” is a valuable resource for anyone looking to develop their creativity and make it a consistent part of their life.
Chapter 1: Introduction
In the introduction, Tharp emphasizes the importance of creativity in all areas of life and describes how she developed her own creative habits.
Chapter 2: Rituals of Preparation
Tharp explains how preparation is the foundation for creativity and how rituals can help individuals get into the right mindset for creative work.
Chapter 3: Scratch
Tharp discusses the idea of “scratching” – exploring ideas and experimenting without judgment – as a way to generate new ideas and overcome creative blocks.
Chapter 4: Spine
Tharp emphasizes the importance of structure and discipline in creative work, using the metaphor of the spine to represent the backbone of a creative project.
Chapter 5: Skill
Tharp argues that creativity is not just about inspiration but also requires skill development and practice.
Chapter 6: Experiment
Tharp encourages experimentation and taking risks in creative work as a way to push boundaries and discover new ideas.
Chapter 7: Accidents Will Happen
Tharp acknowledges that mistakes and accidents are a natural part of the creative process and can sometimes lead to unexpected breakthroughs.
Chapter 8: One Bad Apple
Tharp addresses the importance of collaboration and how working with the wrong people can hinder creativity.
Chapter 9: The Long Run
Tharp discusses the importance of persistence and endurance in creative work, emphasizing the need to keep pushing through challenges and setbacks.
Chapter 10: Rituals of Completion
Tharp describes the importance of completing creative projects and the rituals that can help individuals bring their work to a satisfying end.
Keynotes:
– Creativity can be developed as a habit through practice and discipline.
– Preparation and rituals can help individuals get into the right mindset for creative work.
– Experimentation and taking risks are important for pushing boundaries and discovering new ideas.
– Persistence and endurance are crucial for overcoming challenges and completing creative projects.
– Collaboration is important for creativity, but it’s essential to work with the right people.
– Mistakes and accidents are a natural part of the creative process and can sometimes lead to unexpected breakthroughs.