Books that changed how I think about creativity!

Let me confess something.

I used to think creativity was reserved for a very specific kind of person.

You know…
The “I woke up inspired at 4am and wrote poetry under candlelight” kind.
The “I just feel things deeply” kind.
The “effortlessly artistic” kind.

And then there was me — sitting with 17 half-written ideas, overthinking every sentence, and somehow still convinced I wasn’t “creative enough.”

Turns out… I wasn’t lacking creativity.
I was just overcomplicating it.

And these books?

They didn’t just inspire me.
They rearranged my brain a little.

So if you’ve ever stared at a blank page, doubted your ideas, or felt like creativity is something other people are better at — this is for you.

01. STEAL LIKE AN ARTIST

AUSTIN KLEON

This book is basically permission.

Permission to:

not be original all the time
take inspiration
be messy
figure things out publicly

Because apparently — and this hurt my perfectionist tendencies — nothing is completely original anyway.

The idea is simple:
You don’t copy.
You collect inspiration, remix it, and make it yours.

It’s short, punchy, and the kind of book you’ll keep going back to when your brain says:
“This idea is stupid.”

It’s not. You’re just overthinking it.

👉 Perfect if you’ve ever stopped yourself from creating because it wasn’t “unique enough.”

02. BIG MAGIC

Elizabeth Gilbert

This book didn’t motivate me.
It called me out.

Elizabeth Gilbert talks about creativity like it’s not this rare, dramatic gift — but something that literally just wants to work with you.

One of the wildest ideas in this book is that ideas choose people.

And if you don’t act on them?
They leave… and find someone else.

No pressure. 🙂

It completely shifted how I look at writing.
Not as something I have to force — but something I have to show up for.

Also, the way she talks about fear?

Not as something to eliminate… but something that can sit quietly in the backseat while you drive.

That alone? Worth reading.

👉 If you create anything — blogs, stories, reels, chaos — this is not optional.

03. THE WAR OF ART

STEVEN PRESSFIELD

This book is not gentle.

It doesn’t hold your hand.
It doesn’t romanticise creativity.

It looks you straight in the eye and says:
“You’re not blocked. You’re avoiding work.”

Ouch.

It introduces this concept of Resistance — that invisible force that stops you from doing exactly the thing you know you should be doing.

Writing. Creating. Starting.

And once you see it… you can’t unsee it.

Suddenly:

procrastination has a name
fear has a pattern
and excuses feel a lot less convincing

👉 If you need a push (or a reality check), this is the one.

04. SHOW YOUR WORK

AUSTIN KLEON

If “Steal Like an Artist” is about creating,
This one is about sharing.

Because apparently… creating in silence and waiting to be discovered?

Not a strategy.

This book made me realise that:

you don’t need to be an expert
you don’t need to be perfect
you just need to start showing up

Even if it’s messy. Even if it’s small.

Even if it’s just:
“Hey, I made this.”

Which, honestly, is how most of us start.

👉 If you’re sitting on content and not posting it — read this.

Final Thoughts

Creativity isn’t a talent.
It’s a relationship.

With your ideas.
With your fear.
With your consistency.

Some days it flows.
Some days it fights you.
Some days it disappears and makes you question everything.

And somehow… it’s still worth showing up for.

Because the moment you stop waiting to feel “ready”
is the moment things actually start happening.

So tell me —
Are you still waiting to feel creative… or are you finally ready to start?

Enchanted pen