I love the idea of a Creative Autobiography … everybody has a story to their creative journey, and they are many and varied.

I adapted this (slightly) from Twyla Tharp’s amazing book, ‘The Creative Habit’. I thoroughly recommend getting hold of it – it’s one of the books that shaped my view on the stewardship of your creative gift, and staple in any creative labs I do.

The idea of a creative biography is really exciting, as it explains where you’ve been, and also can help predict where you’re going next… It’s a remarkably worthwhile exercise for anyone to undertake.

Pour yourself some coffee, settle down with pen and paper (it just feels better for things like this), and take a few minutes to unpack your creative journey.

Enjoy.

1. What is the first creative moment you remember?
2. Was anyone there to witness or appreciate it?
3. What is the best idea you’ve ever had?
4. What made it great in your mind?
5. What is the dumbest idea?
6. What made it stupid?
7. Can you connect the dots that led you to this idea?
8. What is your creative ambition?
9. What are the obstacles to this ambition?
10. What are the vital steps to achieving this ambition?
11. How do you begin your day?
12. What are your habits? What patterns do you repeat?
13. Describe your first successful creative act.
14. Describe your second successful creative act.
15. Compare them.
16. What are your attitudes toward: money, power, praise, rivals, work, play?
17. Which artists do you admire most?
18. Why are they your role models?
19. What do you and your role models have in common?
20. Does anyone in your life regularly inspire you?
21. Who is your muse?
22. Define muse.
23. When confronted with superior intelligence or talent, how do you respond?
24. When faced with stupidity, hostility, intransigence, laziness, or indifference in others, how do you respond?
25. When faced with impending success or the threat of failure, how do you respond?
26. When you work, do you love the process or the result?
27. At what moments do you feel your reach exceeds your grasp?
28. What is your ideal creative activity?
29. What is your greatest fear?
30. What is the likelihood of either of the answers to the previous two questions happening?
31. Which of your answers would you most like to change?
32. What is your idea of mastery?
33. What is your greatest dream?

What do you think? Did you discover anything about yourself?? Let me know, I’d love to hear 🙂

GPK