Creative living beyond fear

Big Magic

Elizabeth Gilbert

Cover of Big Magic
Big Magic
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Creativity#creativity#courage

Big Magic

Creative living beyond fear

Portrait of Elizabeth Gilbert
Written byElizabeth Gilbert

A warm, funny pep talk about living a creative life. Gilbert explains how to work with fear instead of against it, why you don’t need anyone’s permission, and why curiosity is a better guide than passion.

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  • Published2015
  • GenreCreativity
  • Key ideas5
  • Summary1 min read

Read it if you…

  • feel stuck creatively
  • want to feel braver in everyday moments
  • want to think differently about a problem

The summary

Key ideas in 1 minute.

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  1. 01Ideas want collaborators

    Inspiration is looking for someone to work with. Show up and be ready.

  2. 02Fear can come, but it can’t drive

    Fear will always be along for the ride. Just don’t give it the wheel.

  3. 03No permission needed

    You have the right to make things, whether or not anyone asked for them.

  4. 04Done is better than good

    Perfectionism is fear in disguise. Finish things and keep going.

  5. 05Follow curiosity

    When passion feels out of reach, follow whatever small thing interests you.

  6. Want the stories, examples and depth behind these ideas?

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Ideas want collaborators

Inspiration is looking for someone to work with. Show up and be ready. Pick one small way to put this into practice before tonight.

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“Done is better than good.”

— Elizabeth Gilbert

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Photos via Wikimedia Commons — Elizabeth Gilbert: Erik Charlton · CC BY 2.0 (cropped)