Creativity Resources

The Creative Life

• How To Be Creative [download PDF version] [read online version]
  Cartoonist Hugh McLeod's take on how to be creative - a great read (with cartoons!). The PDF version is especially recommended.
• Incomplete Manifesto - Bruce Mau
  Creative philosophy of the terrific designer, Bruce Mau.
• Creative Thinking Hacks
  A high-speed version of the course in creative thinking that Scott Berkun taught at the University of Washington.
• How to Unleash Your Creativity
  Scientific American article where experts discuss tips and tricks to set your creative self free. A long article, but it offers interesting perspectives.
• Art and Fear
  Kevin Kelly's selected quotes from the book Art and Fear by David Bayles & Ted Orland. The book is good, and also recommended.
• Complete Your First Book with these 9 Simple Writing Habits
  Some great advice on developing habits that make things happen - can easily be applied to other art forms.
• Surviving Your Day Job with your Creativity Intact
  Life habits to keep your creative side alive.
• Think Like a Genius
  Strategies of famous geniuses like Einstein and Aristotle. Based on Michael Michalko's book Thinking Like a Genius.
• How to Become a Creative Genius
  Another take on the genius theme by Kim Roach.
• The Top 20 Ways to Come Up With Amazing Ideas
  Some of these are pretty basic or familiar but still a good list by Leo Babauta.
• 30 Tips to Rejuvenate Your Creativity
  Reader submitted tips - some are obvious, but worth a look for gems.
• Do You Recognize These 10 Mental Blocks to Creative Thinking?
  A good list of what not to do.

Creative Thinking

• Critical Thinking Web - Module: Creative Thinking
  A brief course in creative thinking. One module of a larger course in critical thinking, logic, and creativity.
• Lateral Thinking: Ed de Bono (video)
  Video where creativity guru Ed de Bono introduces his ideas.
• 6 Thinking Hats: Ed de Bono (video)
  Creativity guru Ed de Bono talking about his "6 Thinking Hats" (video).
• Creative Think: Whack
  Keep refreshing this page for a new "whack" by Roger von Oech (of "A Whack on the Side of the Head" fame).
• A Theory about Genius
  Creativity expert Michael Michalko on how geniuses think.

Getting Unstuck - Exercises

• Drawing and Creativity
  Exercises from Betty Edwards (Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain) that help you access your right brain mode.
• 10 Techniques to Inspire Invention
  Ideas for jumpstarting your drawings or paintings. Try the thumbnail idea! See how someone else did it.
• 66 Experiments by Charles Bernstein
  Writing exercises from experimental poet Charles Bernstein.
• 82 Writing Experiments by Bernadette Meyer
  Poet Bernadette Meyer offers more great writing exercises.
• Tackle Any Issue with a List of 100
  This is a terrific exercise and very clearly described - recommended for anyone.

Round-ups

• 110+ Resources for Creative Minds
  This is a really great roundup of websites - perfect for when you're bored or stuck. Includes a mix of creative advice sites and quick-fix inspiration sites.
• Language is a Virus
  Links to web tools for defeating writers block, brainstorming, generating new combinations of words, character names, and titles. Also info about beat writers, surrealists, and experimentalists.
• Category: Creativity Techniques
  An A-Z library of creativity techniques, wiki style. Very comprehensive, but organized more towards brainstorming and business innovation. Good place to start further research on specific techniques.

More

• Ted: Ideas Worth Spreading
  Not exactly about creativity, but if you want to get fired up, check out these inspiring 20 minute talks by some of the most daring thinkers around.