The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life

I read this book in one go, on the plane from Amsterdam to New York, and time flew by! This book is very well written, and an absolute must-read for any artist struggling to find a way to work on their art every day.What makes this book different from others on the subject is that it was written by some one who has been successful for a long time herself.I'm implementing many small ideas from this book and it has improved my working habits immensely. This book is a must must must read for any artist who wants to find out how to easily turn the art creation process into a habit, a daily routine. And it is a fun read, it feels as if a successful choreographer is talking to you personally.

I love this book and Twyla Tharp, she is really inspiring and old school, face forward in the direction you want to go and keep going. She used to say, her workout or exercise as a ballerina didn't begin when she got into class it began from the moment she left the house. She's very focused, read her book it's great to help you realine your thoughts and work ethic. I'm going to read it again soon

I found this book very interesting, as it gave me a new look on things. The general outlook of Ms Tharp is very different from mine, but actually her view of creativity and the techniques she describes made me rethink a couple of my presumptions. I will probably not go over to her camp 100%, but she makes many compelling points which will stay with me - comparing her results and mine really made me wonder ....

I started life as a fine artist, making work, exhibiting, etc. For a long time I had a very consistent and active creative habit. But over the years, family life and work life have taken over more of my time and attention, and my artistic practice has taken a back seat. In an effort to rekindle the creative habit in my life, I turned to this book to see if it had anything to offer. I've found it very helpful. The suggestions are effectively a strategy for any creative work. It is a practical guide underpinned by real-world experience. Although she comes from the dance world, many of the things Twyla Tharp outlines in this book resonate with me as a visual artist, but seeing them laid out clearly has helped me reconnect to habits and ideas I once knew, but didn't know I knew because they were so intrinsic to my work.

Don't let the fact that this is written from experience in the world of dance put you off at all. It is a fascinating read, with real, practical tools for developing the creative habit that keeps you going through tough times as well as good, no matter whether you write, paint, sculpt or do any other art form. The discipline involved is the same, and as far as this book goes, it really "does what it says on the tin" i.e. help you learn it and use it for life.Highly recommended.

I expected to enjoy it more! but seriously the writer uses her personal life as an example of a successful creative person, which is fine to an extend but after the first chapter I started just reading the headline of the book to get directly the message she's trying to say!

Bought this book but didn’t have high hopes for it. I was wrong she writes well, the book is amusing and thoughtful, Twyla spent years as a choreographer but her creative planning and thought processes apply to many fields, I am reading slowly and have been enjoying very much.

Twyla Tharp, as well as having a fabulous name, is one of America’s greatest choreographers. In this book, she converts 35 years of experience into 32 practical exercises on how to make creativity a natural part of your life, whether professionally or personally, artist or business person. My copy of this book is dog eared, covered in highlighter pen and pencil, and always on my desk for inspiration. I read it about 10 years ago and refer to it (and recommend it to others) on at least a monthly basis.