Coaching the Artist Within : Advice for Writers, Actors, Visual Artists and Musicians from America's Foremost Creativity Coach

I've been reading a number of books dealing with the themes tackled in COACHING THE ARTIST WITHIN: artist fears, doubts, anxiety, blocks, stalled projects, etc. Maisel's book is a wonderful addition to my growing keeper shelf of books to reconnect with when the creative life becomes too much to bear, when I wonder why I bother at all, and when I start to think I'd be better off making widgets on an assembly line.

Maisel addresses the issues all artists face with plenty of compassion, but he doesn't sugar-coat the important issues, either. He makes it abundantly clear that hard work is needed to succeed, and he's not afraid to give artists a good kick in the behind to get them moving again. Perhaps most important of all is the way he show more encourages each of us to become our own creativity coaches. Empowering and motivating, COACHING THE ARTIST WITHIN is a must-read for anyone struggling to find meaning in his or her creative work. (A) show less

There is no greater Creativity Coach than Eric Maisel, who understands that we are all our own reasons for not being more productive. Eric is an accomplished and revered psychiatrist, and offers real solutions and activities to help us stay on our best behavior. His centering exercise aids me at my worst of times...but it only works because I refuse not to make meaning in my life due to fear. Eric taught me that!

Really enjoyed this book and expect to go back to it again and again. My one quibble is that the affirmations don't seem up to the latest research on self-affirmations; but this is an older book and that's easily overlooked. There's lots of good stuff in here. I especially loved the chapters Creating in the Middle of Things and Becoming an Anxiety Expert.

Written for any type of creative person, Coaching the Artist Within contains strategies to help deal with everyday struggles many artists go through when it comes to being creative (anxiety, negative self-talk, creating in the middle of things, achieving balance, etc.). Some parts of the book I’ve already put into practice, others I’m still working on and probably will be for a long time. This book will continue to live on my writing bookshelf because I’ll read it over and over again. Full review: http://passionforthepage.blogspot.com/2008/04/coaching-artist-within-by-eric-mai...

Has some very good ideas but it is wordy.