First, I do not sit down at my desk to put into verse something that is already clear in my read more

First, I do not sit down at my desk to put into verse something that is already clear in my mind. If it were clear in my mind, I should have no incentive or need to write about it. We do not write in order to be understood; we write in order to understand.

Creativity is essentially a lonely art. An even lonelier struggle. To some a blessing. To others a curse. It is read more

Creativity is essentially a lonely art. An even lonelier struggle. To some a blessing. To others a curse. It is in reality the ability to reach inside yourself and drag forth from your very soul an idea.

It is not good enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well.

It is not good enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well.

The creative person wants to be a know -it -all. He wants to know about all kinds of things: ancient read more

The creative person wants to be a know -it -all. He wants to know about all kinds of things: ancient history, nineteenth -century mathematics, current manufacturing techniques, flower arranging, and hog futures. Because he never knows when these ideas might come together to form a new idea. It may happen six minutes later or six months, or six years down the road. But he has faith that it will happen.

Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don't let them scare you unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and read more

Uncertainty and mystery are energies of life. Don't let them scare you unduly, for they keep boredom at bay and spark creativity.

Begin with another's to end with your own.

Begin with another's to end with your own.

It's been very important throughout my career that I've met all the guys I've copied, because at each stage they've read more

It's been very important throughout my career that I've met all the guys I've copied, because at each stage they've said, "Don't play like me, play like you.".

Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.

Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.

You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood.

You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood.