The Best Books on Creative Productivity
Nine books that make me actually want to start writing.
I see some of you rolling your eyes while shouting to the skies, “NOOOO! NOT ANOTHER PRODUCTIVITY BOOK LIST!”
Y’all, I am with you. I’m tired of the hustle narrative, too—in fact, last year, I wrote about all about the highs and lows of Becoming a Writer in the Girlboss Era. But certain books about the relationship between productivity and creativity have really helped me continue to foster my writing practice, especially on hard days.
Creativity is one of our highest functions. It requires spontaneity and presence and a belief in our own potential. In order to access that high function, we need to lay a foundation for ourselves to do that work.
Yes, I am saying that there is privilege in being able to work creatively. Am I’m not even necessarily referring to the privilege inherent in having the time to do creative work, because yes, that is a privilege all on its own. I simply mean that, in order to be able to access the high function of creativity, we have to secure so many other things first. Food, for instance. Shelter. Mental and emotional stability. Love, even. A feeling of belonging. The feeling of instability can keep us from writing and creating.
Here are a few books that help me find paths leading toward a more stable place in my creative life. Not all of these titles are necessarily about creativity or productivity, but they help me ease into a headspace where I am capable of producing my best creative work.
The Best Books on Creative Productivity
Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
I thought I was fully incapable of focusing on one thing for longer than six-and-a-half minutes, especially creative work, until I read this book. Turned out, I wasn’t incapable—I just wasn’t creating conditions conducive to deep, creative work. Cal Newport taught me the value of compartmentalizing, time-blocking, and focusing on one thing at a time.
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
This is the book that inspired me to start the 100-day writing challenge that laid the foundation for my daily writing practice. Duckworth’s breakdown of the mindset that helps people finish projects made me want to be grittier in my creative life.
Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones by James Clear
My favorite lesson from this book: create visual cues in order to build good habits. The longer it takes to set up your environment for writing, the less likely you are to actually write!
Daily Rituals: Women at Work by Mason Currey
I love reading about other artists’ processes and rituals, so
Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential by Tiago Forte
Perhaps the most specified topic on this book list, Building a Second Brain poses an excellent argument: why take up valuable brain space trying to remember everything when you could implement a note-taking system that remembers things for you? I’m the kind of writer who uses her Notes app religiously, and this book helped me get my Notes in a more organized and useful state. Read this if you want to support Future You in all of your creative endeavors.
Do It Today: An Encouragement Journal by Kara Cutruzzula
Whenever I need a little boost of confidence, I fill out a page of
“Being nervous churns your stomach, but it’s also a signal that you care about the outcome. What is making you a little nervous right now?”
Getting to Center: Pathways to Finding Yourself in the Great Unknown by Marlee Grace
If you ever need a book-length pep talk, look no further.
Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport
The author of Deep Work later released a companion book on minimizing our digital attention. My biggest distraction from writing is, over and over again, the noise of digital life. My inbox. Twitter notifications. And don’t even get me started on Instagram or TikTok. This book helped me set healthy boundaries with digital spaces.
The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp
This title is a classic in the creative world, and for good reason. I never thought I’d apply so much of a choreographer’s routines to my own life, but her habits really stick.
Which books have helped you in your own creative life?
I’m always looking for new books on creativity. Leave a comment with your recommendations!
Announcing a new feature in the Book Club for Writers!
Starting in July, Book Club for Writers discussion sessions will be recorded and made available for members who can’t make it live.
When I launched the book club last year, I had no idea how much it would grow. We now have close to 50 members (!!!) who reside in more time zones than I’d ever thought possible.
I want our discussions to be available to all paying subscribers, so I’m excited to roll out this new feature, starting with our discussion of Daily Rituals: Women at Work on July 30.
Want in on this growing, enthusiastic community? Click SUBSCRIBE NOW below to upgrade your subscription. Annual and monthly memberships are available.
You can find the full Book Club for Writers schedule here. Book selections for 2024 will be announced in the fall. Thanks for your interest in chatting about books with me!
Thanks for reading this issue! See you later this month with more book recommendations.
💛 Hurley
I'm so flattered to see my book on this list *and* in your book club, Hurley — thank you!!
All of my writing has basically come from a feeling of *not* knowing how to do it, trying to figure out how other people did it/do it . . . so it's so lovely to know that it's serving this same function for others ❤️
David Allen’s Getting Things Done was a real game changer for me!