Creativity Books

What a useful tool for the creative person to use for reflection and insight into motivation and sources of inspiration and application. A brief description of the symbol and its meaning can serve as a guide for the day, or a project... simple exercises help to make the understanding of the particular lesson, from "Play" to "Failure", a Muse in its own right. I would recommend this set highly to anyone who finds themselves "stuck" in their process, be they business oriented, artists, writers, or anyone who needs a boost to correlate ideas with action.

I pull a stone nearly everyday and find inspiration for any creative task. Business writing is a challenge for the soul full of passion, and the runes provide fun motivation for otherwise dismal responsibilities... Thanks for the help!

Ecclesiastes 12:11 says the words of the wise are like goads and the masters of these are like well-driven tent stakes. Sacred Play qualifies as a word of wisdom for the church on both counts. A goad enters the hide of the ox and makes it advance. Well-driven tent stakes represent absolute anchors from which we can stretch our cords. Sacred Play pushes us beyond our conventional practice to rediscover a godly joy too often gone AWOL from church. Childlike play, dramatic art, and creative artists are introduced as critical and overlooked keys to this rediscovery. Sacred Play stretches the cord of conventional and familiar expressions of worship, yet it is also firmly attached to the well-driven stake of Scripture. Shereos, a professional actor and a pastor's wife, reveals the tensions created by the soul of an artist trapped in the body of a conservative church. Where does a gifted artist turn when number painting is the only course offered? Shereos gives us Spiritual direction. Through the encouragement of her pastor-husband, she became the founder and director of the Worship Programming Team of Hope Evangelical Free Church of Springfield, Illinois. She also headed up Prologue, Hope's drama team and is the executive director of Next Step Drama Ministries. Sacred Play is a call to rediscover the delight of God as creator and lover of our souls, the godly relevance of childhood play, and our unique beauty as human beings (vs. human doings),and the legitimate contribution of dramatic arts in the disciplines of church life. This call is also anchored in a deep yearning for God's people to rediscover our rich biblical heritage. Old Testament feasts, King David's expressions of worship, biblical exhortations to sing, shout and dance, and themes of God's extravagant delight in His people provide a biblical paradigm for authentic worship. Is it possible that our expressions of worship are more influenced by conservative culture than the Scriptures? As a timely goad Sacred Play pushes us in the direction of a godly joy waiting for us beyond our conventional borders. However, this joy is often missed because of unfounded fear and insensitivity to the gifts God has given to bless His church. As a well-driven tent stake this fresh picture of worship is firmly anchored in the witness of Scripture. A biblical, childlike faith is carefully distanced from a childish faith. Special care is taken to guard against the excesses of the creative personality with reference to biblical norms. Sacred Play does not advocate worshiping creativity. It calls us to worship God, our creator and redeemer. Creativity is offered as a means and a discipline of laying hold of the joy of the Lord. Real freedom is always tied to the post of obedience to God and His word. In Sacred Play artistic expression is given serious consideration as a legitimate and untapped gift of the Spirit waiting to be discovered within the context of public worship. In addition it suggests practical insights into recongnizing these vital gifts and establishing ministries for the creative within the church. I loved this book! This daring picture of the church at worship challenged me to reexamine my ideas about public worship. Yet, I was also securely tethered to the tent peg of God's word. Words of wisdom will do that every time.

Rev. James Lincoln, Hope Fellowship Wilsonville Oregon

This book was a very easy personal read. It spoke directly to the heart of the creative person. As an artist, there is often little encouragement to pursue art. Not so in Wenda's book. She helped me to understand why when I don't create I am not a complete person. As she shared from her heart her own experience it seemed as if she was writing my story. To make the reading more alive, rather than racing through the book, she included wonderful exercises to help deepen the experience. She replaced guilt with joy in the creative process. But least the gift she gives be selfish, she encourages you to share the gift of freedom to create with others. I highly recommend this book for anyone, not just the artist, or dancer or actor. Buy it for yourself or buy it for a friend. You won't be sorry!

Ms Nesbitt has given us a blueprint for success. If you use your creativity to come up with excuses, she will call you on it. Romney banishes all your "I'll get to it later" thoughts and helps you utilize your time wisely.

If you have one or more projects to complete, if you have one or more justifications for slacking off, if you need a kind kick in the pants, buy this book. The lady knows her stuff and can help you figure out yours!

SECRETS FROM A CREATIVE COACH is a must-have book for every person who longs to write, paint or pursue any kind of artistic endeavor. The secrets Nesbitt shares are practical and can be accomplished by anyone with a desire to write or paint.

Closet artists who yearn to write a book, paint a picture, or create some other form of art are given uncomplicated directions to begin the life they have always dreamed about immediately.

Have you ever told yourself that you'll start writing, painting, etc. as soon as you find the time? That you'll begin just as soon as you organize your office or other work area? As soon as you retire? If the answer is "yes," SECRETS FROM A CREATIVE COACH will stop the procrastination and get you working.

A creative soul can spend years and years with this unprofitable dialogue inside her/his head. Nesbitt inspires readers to begin today by tackling their project in 20 minute increments of time.

Anyone can succeed with Nesbitt's insider secrets. Adopt this easy-to-understand, easy-to-read plan and start on your road to success today.

SECRETS FROM A CREATIVY COACH has a permanent spot near my computer. It sits next to Anne Lamott's "Bird by Bird," and in this writer's opinion is just as helpful.

Jacqueline "Jackie" King
Author of both fiction and nonfiction

Incredible healing book. I found this book at the library and the day that I could buy my own copy was a happy day. I think that every survivor of childhood sexual abuse should have this book and am constantly mentioning it and am constantly appalled that more survivors don't know about it and don't have it. So healing. Great for helping you in your own healing process and for ideas on your own creative healing journey.

The combination of getting to see/read the women's art/writing and reading about their own interpretation of how their healing has walked with their art is really powerful. The writing styles of the women vary hugely as they talk about their creativity and the diversity ensures that somewhere in this book a chord will be struck with the reader. The verbal and visual images are extremely strong and efeective. But perhaps the significant message comes from seeing how these women have created and gained something so strong out of the devastating experience of incest.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
This book uses the real art of the storyteller to bring about positive change, January 15, 2007
By Hypnotherapist (London) - See all my reviews

The stories are based on the adverse effects that behaviours, attitudes and actions have had on the lives of others. Therefore, if the readers can benefit from recognising symptoms of their own issues that have caused problems, then there is the possibility that they can take corrective action before suffering strikes them.
John Smale has created analogies, examples and metaphors for the world and humanity. In this way we can learn afresh by looking at ourselves from a new perspective and overcome problems.

The stories are based on the adverse effects that behaviours, attitudes and actions have had on the lives of others. Therefore, if the readers can benefit from recognising symptoms of their own issues that have caused problems, then there is the possibility that they can take corrective action before suffering strikes them.
John Smale has created analogies, examples and metaphors for the world and humanity. In this way we can learn afresh by looking at ourselves from a new perspective and overcome problems.

This is the most useful book I've ever read on the art and craft of singing, and recommend it highly to professionals and beginners alike. In a different approach to how we're usually taught, Hemsley argues that imagination and focus should be the most important aspects of vocal training. In doing so, he revisits all aspects of voice training, from breathing and "support" (a term he loathes) to colouring and performance, offering alternatives using one's imagination for each.

Reminiscent of Sergius Kagen's "On Singing", Hemsley emphasises preparation of the text and Knowing Thy Score prior to even thinking about singing. Singing ought to start with an urgent impulse to share with the audience a story, which can only be brought about when one has brought the character, music and text to life in one's own head. Again like Kagen, Hemsley spends no time on anatomy or physics, arguing that this can even be detrimental in creating an artist.

A particularly interesting aid is the use of tessitura (which in this case is defined by Hemsley as a single note around which the others are centred). Keeping this note in mind throughout the piece should ensure accuracy of pitch, and better legato.

Overall, Hemsley provides a coherent and common sense framework for a meaningful performance."Testing" his suggestions one by one I found a distinct improvement in my technique and, more importantly, greater enjoyment of the music.

Singing and Imagination: A Human Approach...by Thomas Hemsley is an excellent book for beginning students of voice, as well as for more experienced singers. After a review of basic voice mechanics, like attack, breath control, vibrato, and falsetto, the author makes his own unique and intersting contributions to the art of singing. He talks about using the powers of your imagination, through imagery, to produce the most beautiful and meaningful music. The book is well written, and is easy to read and understand. I found it to be extremely insightful, and very helpful in the course of my own vocal studies. I recommend it to anyone who sings, either professionally or as a hobby.

Psychology/Self-Help

Do you dream of being more creative? Are you envious of gifted friends? Do you feel frustrated when you try to express yourself?

Source Imagery introduces a clear step-by-step process for unblocking your natural creativity.

One's own natural capacity to fantasize and dream is a grossly undervalued method for tapping into a wealth of dazzling unconcsious resources.

Images that attract and fascinate are at least a quick and immeadiate way to deal with and understand our complex inner life. At their best, images can actually teach and guide. They are packed with creative potential, and all images that occur to us, or that move us, have an evolutionary quality. Images are integrative, being literally 'beyond words' - one need not be especially articulate to beautifully express the past, or imagine and re-imagine the future.

The proof is in the students, and how they improve. As I developed my process, both me and my students were being transformed. In combining images and therapy, I had literally found my calling, and this book charts the beginning steps. SOURCE IMAGERY is about channeling that in-person workshop experience into book form. I am the author Sandra Shuman, and I also mantain a website.

This book offers an extremely accessible entry into the path of cognitive/meditative development. Lipson provides a refreshingly laid back approach that inspires one to get started and have fun with it.

Along with Kuhlewind's "From Normal to Healthy", I'd say this is one of the best descriptions of this particular path.

This is a loving, enlightened, literate, shrewd, poetic, helpful, centering book. I highly recommend it.

If you know a potter, this is an excellent gift. Expertly weaves spiritual insight with the practice of the craft.

Marjory Bankson's experience as a potter has given her great insight into the imagery of God as the potter. She takes the reader through each step in the process of forming a lump of clay into a useable pot. But this is not a book about how to become a potter; it is a book about how to become a pot!

Each step that the Potter takes, from kneading, centering, shaping, firing, glazing... each one is a step in the process of forming each of us into the unique individuals God wants us to be. Marjory Bankson explains what it means to be that lump of clay, to need to be kneaded, to have those hard resisting spots gently smoothed out by the Creator. I have seen her demonstrate with her potting wheel what happens when the clay is NOT centered... if we are not grounded careful our lives DO go "flying off the wheel."

And how can the Potter shape a pot unless the clay gives Him an opening? The potter must get inside the clay, exerting inward and outward pressure, forming the life and personality of the pot.

Through each stage, Marjory Bankson explains not just the Potter's role, but the soul work that acoompanies it, using examples from her own life to clearly illustrate the meaning. If you ever wondered what it means to be the clay in the Potter's hands, this book is for you!

This is one of the most comprehensive and delightful books on time travel I have read. The clear step by step processes Shelley lays out are easy to use. Using one of her techniques, I found myself in a past life in 12th century Europe. The experience was vivid in detail and the journey was a delight.
I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to explore their past.

During a period of deep grief I found myself consoled, then motivated, and even inspired by Shelley Lessin Stockwell's easy-to-read book, TIME TRAVEL. Turn the page and you will be delighted to discover not just a thorough and comprehensive book, but an embodiment of the passion, poetry, prose and paintings of this gifted artist, as she delivers a work that joyously journeys down all avenues of the subject matter. As an added bonus, Stockwell's writing is riddled with humor, and her joie de vivre lights up every page.

Following Stockwell's clear instruction and suggestions, I, a novice, soon found myself channeling my loved one through automatic writing with ease, feeling confident because the results in my case were in rhyme, never my style or capability, but true to my loved one's poetic prowess.

With this kind of success, along with the sheer enjoyment and fascination I had reading the book, I highly recommend Stockwell's TIME TRAVEL:Do It Yourself Past Life Journey Handbook, no matter what your level of interest in the subject. I give it five very bright stars, and, quite frankly, look forward to feasting my eyes, and spirit, on another Stockwell book soon.