I have an ever-expanding collection of creative books, most of which I keep near my desk. These are the four I have been reaching for lately.
This book is chock full of little tidbits of advice. And the advice that resonates with me changes each time I pick it up. Right now, I’m loving this advice:
- Keep a logbook, a place to write down what you do each day
- Create a blog: “Having a container can inspire us to fill it.”
- “Surround yourself with books and objects you love.”
This is the book that inspired me to start a creative journal in the first place, and to do so in a composition notebook. This book collects hand-drawn syllabi, assignments, and handouts from the college classes taught by artist Lynda Barry. There is tons of inspiration here, including the Daily Exercise.
This is by far the best collection of collage images I have found. The paper is thick, and the images are high quality. There is a bit of a vintage tilt to the subject matter, but I have found myself coming back to this again and again as I collage.
This book contains dozens of creative prompts. What I love about it is that it combines visual creativity with written creativity, which is my happy place. It also includes interviews with other journal keepers. No matter how much of a funk I’m in, I can always find something inspiring here.
Textual Play 