Fearless Creating: A Step-By-Step Guide to Starting and Completing Your Work of Art

By Eric Maisel

Book Overview

Widely regarded as a modern classic, Fearless Creating has taken its place among the greats of creativity literature. As the best work available on the stages of the creative process, the anxieties associated with each stage, and the strategies for dealing with creative challenges, this beloved book of immense value to new generations of creatives and to everyone who writes, paints, composes, or engages in any creative pursuit.

Carefully guiding readers through the stages of the creative process--nurturing the wish to create, choosing your next subject, starting to work, persisting in the work, completing the work, and showing the work--Dr. Maisel provides readers with a clear picture of what's required as a creative and new hope for overcoming creative blocks, realizing artistic dreams, and succeeding in the arts.

As the author of more than twenty books for creatives, among them Affirmations for Artists and Coaching the Artist Within, as the founder of the profession of creativity coaching, and as a diplomat coach who trains coaches nationally and internationally, Dr. Maisel knows this territory--and shares his vast experience with new and seasoned creative alike.

With an understanding that could only be gained through decades of working with creatives in all the disciplines, and from his own experience as the author of more than fifty books, Dr. Maisel guides readers past the pitfalls that appear at each stage of the creative process. By engaging with Dr. Maisel's exercises and following his suggestions and advice, readers will emerge with renewed hope and confidence and with the tools needed to start and complete their creative work, meet the challenges of the creative life, and live life as a fearless creator.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1684817773
• ISBN13: 9781684817771
• Release Date: March 2027
• Publisher: Books That Save Lives
• Length: 288 Pages

Customer Reviews

As a professor of creativity this has been 1 of 2 texts I have used for over 10 years.

I teach Creativity at a University so I am constantly on the lookout for new and improved texts to use in my courses. For over ten years I have used this same book because I have not found a better one. I give the students a choice between this and Julia Cameron The Artist's Way. The latter is more "spiritual" in tone ("inner" this and "within" that, and let your "higher self" speak, etc.) and Fearless Craeting is more "secular" ( the occasional PG swear word, painting naked, etc.) so they appeal to different types of students. They are still the 2 best books I know to actually enhance your creativity. (Nor have the authors in my opinions, surpassed them in their subsequent books.) The only drawback is that the student only have to pay $15.00 for this text. They are used to paying $95.00 so this can be upsetting to them.

Excellent, brave

I am impressed at Maisel's boldness of style and content. He is not afraid to probe the depths of the human tendency to make excuses, play it safe, take the easy way out. He offers tough-minded encouragement in overcoming these near-universal blocks to originality and creativity, in art and in life. The exercises are interesting and useful, although of course some will be more relevant than others for each individual practitioner. I wouldn't judge in advance which ones are best, though; sometimes the least appealing is the most needed. Not for those who find creativity easy and straight-forward (which often means they aren't pushing their limits, which is fine if that's how they want to play it), but they probably wouldn't buy it anyway.

Puts action in your creative traction

Maisel knows artists, whether they are writers, painters, dancers, musicians. And he knows what makes us tick, get stuck, frightened and give up. And he won't let us use a shred of an excuse. Thank goodness. Here is a book for the artist who wants to make meaning in life, work deep and see results. And while we are getting real, Maisel is there helping us plan, sell, and make money at it as well. Not for the faint of heart, or those who expect to be told that everything we do is wonderful and we are misunderstood. Wait, I take some of that back. This IS a book for the faint of heart, but not if you want to stay that way. This is a book for artists who are serious, who want to grow, who want to move forward every day. Maisel is never cruel, never patronizing, never so tough that you want to give up. This is a wonderful supportive book that makes you glad you decided NOT to make art your hobby while you got a "real" job. Maisel's book is filled with steps and exercises you can use for years, appreciating their flexibility as you do so.

a compelling book that is compassionate and forthright

Maisel's Fearless Creating articulates the stages of the creative process in a unique way that shows that he really understands what is in the heart and mind of creators. His exercises are to the point, useful, and sometimes very funny, but even more important than the exercises is the author's vision, which is clear and accurate. He doesn't mince words about the difficulties creators face, both from within and from without, which must have upset the last reviewer to such an extent that she couldn't continue past the introduction. Too bad. Although Maisel is honest, that honesty is a virtue and he also provides answers and real help in every chapter. This is a must-own book for people who create or who hope to create.