To continue this season of not, where I have been reposting old blog posts and links to some others, I … More
Category: Creativity
The Year of Living Deeply 11: In the taxi with Twyla Tharp
I have been thinking a lot about habits recently. The unconscious, unthinking ones which, as Sylvia Plath said about words, … More
The Year of Living Deeply 10: A week without –
I have just started reading Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit: Learn it and use it for life. Like those other classics … More
Creativity: a provocation
You can download the PowerPoint of my talk at Mount Kelly College, on 18 April 2017, here: Creativity_a provocation_Mount Kelly College_April … More
Not to forget
‘What drives you?’ says the book. ‘Haven’t we been here before?’ ‘What drives you?’ ‘Are you serious?’ ‘Never more,’ says … More
More than a metaphor
‘I’m not talking to you,’ says the book. ‘Whyever not?’ I say. ‘You left,’ the book says. ‘I’m never going … More
The wedding speech
‘Where have you been?’ says the book. ‘And good morning to you, too!’ I say. ‘Where have you been?’ the … More
On noticing, by Verlyn Klinkenborg
Is it possible to practice noticing? I think so. But I also think it requires a suspension of yearning and … More
I want to disappear
‘I’ve lost my nerve,’ says the book. ‘It’s gone, can’t do it any more. I’m done.’ ‘You haven’t of course, … More
Influence
‘Did you hear?’ says the book. ‘Ted Hughes’s brother has died.’ ‘I did see that, yes,’ I say. ’95, though. … More
Looking for Ted Hughes
‘I’ve been out,’ says the book. ‘So I see,’ I say. The book is dressed in a pith helmet and … More
Hanging out the washing
‘What are you doing?’ ‘What’s it look like?’ I say. ‘Hanging out the washing,’ the book says. ‘That’s right. I’m … More
How we spend our days, by Annie Dillard
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and … More
Running a bath
‘What are you doing?’ the book says. ‘What’s it look like?’ I say. ‘Running a bath,’ the book says. ‘Genius,’ … More
The art of noticing, and then creating, a conversation with Seth Godin
We need to re-think marketing as a story that either does or does not resonate with us. Do … More
The vision thing
Here is how it happens. The vision is, sub specie aeternitatis, a set of mental relationships, a coherent series of … More
The risk of failure
‘What do you think?’ I say to the book. It has held on to my poem for a week, and … More
The safety net of approval
Even though it is sweltering, the book is wearing its dinner jacket. Its legs are stretched out, feet on my … More