If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you probably know that I recently read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, who also wrote Eat, Pray, Love.You probably also know that I absolutely loved it. It hasn’t completely changed my perception on writing, but it has changed my attitude towards it. As promised, today I have a review of it for you. Spoiler: this review is very positive.

Image from Amazon

What I love about this book is how Gilbert puts creative living in perspective. I’m sure the vast majority of creatives want their work to be successful or to change the world or something, but everything you make doesn’t have to. In fact, Eat, Pray, Love was Gilbert’s fourth book. Her fourth! And even if nothing Gilbert makes in the future comes near to the success of that book – or how many lives were changed because of it – it doesn’t matter. That book and the subsequent movie touched so many lives. But, most importantly, it touched hers. Most creatives may want to be successful, but more importantly, they have to create. If I don’t write, even just on this blog, I feel like I will die. In this book, Gilbert reminded me of that, and to stop putting so much pressure on myself. Everything I write doesn’t have to win awards or be a commercial success. I just need to write, and for myself.

This book changed my view on writing and on my creative life. Most importantly, it changed my view on my relationship with writing. (And it should go without saying that this changes are all positive.) If you are a creative person, buy it. I can’t tell you if it’s better to listen to it or to read a hard copy. I listened to it which was awesome because she reads it so it was like having a conversation with her. I also would have loved to read a hard copy because then I would have highlighted and written notes. So pick whichever works for you, but definitely buy it so you can read it over and over and over.

Who else has read Big Magic? What did you think? And what are some other great books for creatives to read?

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