The creative life : true tales of inspiration (2010) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

show spoilers

People edit see section history

• Julia Cameron: author, playwright, songwriter, novelist, teacher
• Emma Lively: songwriter, musician, playwright
• Tyler Beattie: Director
• Domenica: Julia's daughter, director
• Tiger Lilly: Julia's cocker spaniel
• Charlotte: Emma's dog (afraid of storms)
• Nigel: Julia's inner censor
• Joel Fotinos: Julia's publisher
• Susan Raohofer: Julia's literary agent
• Peter Lewis: acting student
• Gerard: Julia's friend, affiliated with Upper West Side music school
• Chaim: Add a description of this character.
• Steven
• Marlys
• Domenico
• Martha
• Tracy
• Jennifer
• Sondra
• Luther
• Jackie
• John
• Laura
• Judy
• Sharee
• Bob Mcdonald
• Anna
• James
• Michele
• Sophy
• Bill
• Owen

Quotes edit see section history

• “A writer's relationship to writing resembles a marriage. Just as a long-term couple may not feel like making love until the first caress leads to the next, for awriter the first sentence on a page often leads to other sentences. Some of the finest writing gets done when we're "not in the mood." (pg 21)”

• “..."the seasons of creativity pass very much like the passing storm. There are times that are simply difficult, and those times will pass--eventually. My writing will get easier. Just not tonight. ...the trick in surviving difficult times is to admit they are truly difficult. ... There is no point in fighting the storm or willing it to pass sooner. The storm takes the time it takes. There is no point in pressuring myself. Better to gently encourage my psyche, practicing delight in what I find. The storm is a tutor to me. Its turbulence teaches that I am resilient enough to survive the tumult." (pg 47)”

• “So stick me in the prayer pot for tonight (pg 111)”

  Julia Cameron

• Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers

• The key to being prolific is steady production. It works well to set a modest daily quotient, one that can be met without too much strain. For me, the daily quotient is three pages.

  Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers

• Master Minding, in which we visualized each other’s prayer requests as successfully realized.

  Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers

• Just as a long-term couple may not feel like making love until the first caress leads to the next, for a writer the first sentence on a page often leads to other sentences. Some of the finest writing gets done when we’re “not in the mood.”

  Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers

• “You and Emma are so prolific.” I think to myself that the secret lies in never throwing anything away. What we can’t master today, we might well master tomorrow.

  Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers

• It’s late in the day to start writing. I consider waiting until tomorrow, and then I think, No. I’ll grab a few sentences. Over the years, I have learned to grab tidbits of time. The tidbits add up. It is an “easy does it” approach to creativity. Small tidbits add up to a larger whole.

  Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers

• All that is required for this transformation is my focused attention. If I slow down, life is beautiful.

  Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers

• Once I relaxed, my writing became clearer and easier. No longer striving to be brilliant and clever, I began to write more about communication. As I practiced more humility, my work became far more accessible. People liked it better, and I liked it better myself. My ego became less invested in “my” work.

  Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers

• I have explained to my students the value of Believing Mirrors—people who see our power and potential and reflect it back to us—but now they are experiencing their value firsthand.

  Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers

• I explain my writing process: first longhand, then computer; first friends, then critics. I explain the process I call “green sheets,” a dense and careful outline that allows me to make changes without getting lost.

  Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers

• Prayers to the Great Creator, a compilation of four prayer books I have written.

  Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Maine
• Chicago
• New York
• Taos
• London
• Bunny
• Chinatown
• Central Park
• Manhattan
• Large

First Sentence edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

List the series to which this book belongs.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Julia Cameron (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 818.5409

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Health, Mind & Body › Self-Help › Creativity