Artist's Way : A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity Books

Pros: Wonderful book that puts you on a schedule for working your art.
Cons: It's only a 12-week course!

The Artist’s Way is a book that I stumbled upon quite by accident, and I am very glad I did. While looking for books on journal writing, this one jumped out at me from the bookshelf, and after flipping through it, decided that I had to have...

Pros: Encourages creativity
Cons: Can become tedious after a while

As a writer, I am always looking for things to enhance my abilities and increase my creativity. In my mind, creativity is a primary factor in writing. When I am feeling creative I tend to be more prolific in my writing.

I first heard about...

Pros: Encouraging, well written, lots of practical ideas, chapters intertwine.
Cons: Requires time and work, references to God might be offputting for some.

I've only said this about one other book ever, but The Artist's Way actually did change my life. The book and program require commitment, but it's fun and enlightening. If you let it it can open your mind to your own ideas, creativity and possibilities....

Pros: Shows You Pitfalls To Avoid - All Its Teachings
Cons: The Way "Freeing Up" Creativity is Approached

I consider myself an extremely creative person. I love to both participate and observe many art forms. First and foremost, the flute is my passion. I have received several awards at state level, attended Coe College in Iowa on a flute scholarship, and...

Pros: A well-organized method to encourage creative expression
Cons: Requires commitment (that's probably a "pro", too)

Imagine what a world we'd have if everyone could translate their ideas and dreams into reality! Unfortunately, creativity and self-discipline don't always go together. Imagination is a right-brained skill, and organization is left-brained.

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Pros: Step-by-step exercises and clear instructions for action
Cons: the spiritual new age tone will turn off some readers.

This book changed my life.

Whew. I always mistrust statements like this. And I don't think Julia Cameron is a saint or a seer or a cult guru. I've read plenty of comments from people who didn't find the book helpful and thought the exercises...

Pros: Insightful author and Useful Information
Cons: Have to be committed to get the rewards from this workbook!

A friend of mine suggested that I read this book when I told her that I was at a crossroad in my life... I was rethinking my career and trying to find my true self.

Well...the Artist Way opened doors that were closed. This book is for all...

Pros: makes a great gift
Cons: requires true dedication

You don't have to be an artist by popular definition to benefit from this book. Personally, think we all have an artist within ourselves . . . some choose to let the artist free and others choose not to for countless reasons.

This book...

Pros: Gets the creativity out of you
Cons: None

This book has attitude. Right off the bat the message that it has the greatest thing that all starving artists want to hear:

Don't give a f$%k what anyone says about your work, what you do art wise, music wise, anything that has to do...

Pros: It is worth doing the work - even if you only make it through a bit at a time.
Cons: It is a trip not a destination (-- or is that a "pro" as well?)

I think the reason some reviewers have so much trouble with this book is that it requires so much deep work from the user. I say user, not reader, because this is a book that clearly states that needs to be "worked through" and it does. It...

Pros: some interesting quotations in the margins
Cons: encourages self-centered, overly emotional behavior; propagates the negative stereotypes of artists as maladjusted people

This is basically a New Agey manual on how to be happy as a self-centered, impulsive, unstable artist. I was initially very enthusiastic about the book. I found the artist's affirmation statements on page 3 thought-provoking and intriguing. I did all...

Pros: Intensive program for unblocking creativity, reasonable price, easy to read and do
Cons: Can be difficult to commit to by oneself. Helpful to find others working the program

The Artist's Way is a book for those who are willing to be intensely introspective. It outlines an intensive 12 week program of writing and other exercises that can benefit any type of creativity, whether writing, or the fine arts. I found that it also...

Pros: An innovative approach; a good instructive tool; a unique process for channeling and focusing creative energy.
Cons: The spiritual angle may put off some people; some folks may feel that the daily writing requirement is more than they prefer.

Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way" is subtitled "The Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity," a subtitle that is a little bit deceiving. As a professional writer and editor, I was suspicious of a "spiritual" approach to...

Pros: Interesting program, which statistically speaking seems to work for many people
Cons: Very formulaic, incorporates a rigidity to 'set practices' that in itself is at odds w ith the underlying concept of the book/program

I have to admit to generally mistrusting anything that comes to sound like a mantra; or to sound fomulaic. In my experience, there really is no one solution that works for everyone of even similar circumstances (e.g., all artists) regardless of other...

Pros: Down to earth advice, when applied can make a difference in your life
Cons: None

While growing up I sketched, painted and took art classes in elementary school and high school. I even went to the local museum on weekends to take drawing classes. When I was in college I majored in Graphic Design, then two years into it I realized I...