The Widening Stream: The Seven Stages Of Creativity [Paperback]

David Ulrich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 2002

Life itself can be approached as a creative challenge, through the medium of whatever we do on a daily basis, whether it be painting a picture or cooking a meal. In THE WIDENING STREAM, author David Ulrich gracefully illustrates the series of stages encountered on every creative journey, regardless of the form of expression. Using the stream as a metaphor, Ulrich takes readers from the moment of inspiration to completion, helping us navigate the joys and frustrations inherent in the process.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Drawing on his many years' experience as a writer, Pressfield (The Legend of Bagger Vance) presents his first nonfiction work, which aims to inspire other writers, artists, musicians, or anyone else attempting to channel his or her creative energies. The focus is on combating resistance and living the destiny that Pressfield believes is gifted to each person by an all-powerful deity. While certainly of great value to frustrated writers struggling with writer's block, Pressfield's highly personal philosophy, soundly rooted in his own significant life challenges, has merit for anyone frustrated in fulfilling his or her life purpose. Successful photographer Ulrich (photography chair, Art Inst. of Boston; coeditor, The Visualization Manual) explores the creative impulse and presents an approach to developing creativity that, like Pressfield's, will be relevant to artists and others. He identifies and explains seven distinct stages of the creative process: discovery and encounter, passion and commitment, crisis and creative frustration, retreat and withdrawal, epiphany and insight, discipline and completion, and responsibility and release. He also develops his view of the three principles of the creative impulse, which include creative courage, being in the right place at the right time, and deepening connections with others. Rooted in Eastern philosophy, Ulrich's fully developed treatise nicely updates the solid works of Brewster Ghiselin (The Creative Process), Rollo May (The Courage To Create), and Julia Cameron (The Artist's Way). It also supplements Pressfield's inspirational thoughts on overcoming resistance through introspective questions and practical exercises that further elaborate the creative process. Both books are recommended for public libraries needing additional works on creativity. Dale Farris, Groves, TX
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

David Ulrich has taught and investigated the creative process for over thirty years. As a photographer and writer, his work has been published in numerous books and journals including Aperture, Parabola, MANOA, and Sierra Club publications. Ulrich’s photographs have been exhibited internationally in over seventy-five one-person and group exhibitions in museums, galleries, and universities, including The Art Institute of Boston and The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in New Delhi.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books/Beyond Words; Original edition (April 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582700796
• ISBN-13: 978-1582700793
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #742,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The premise here is that creative impulse can be taught, March 4, 2003

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Widening Stream: The Seven Stages Of Creativity (Paperback)

Photographer and professor David Ulrich's The Widening Stream: The Seven Stages Of Creativity is a guide to creativity and an artistic, spiritual piece which guides readers through various stages of the creative process. The premise here is that creative impulse can be taught; not just inherited: chapters provide exercises and tools to help the reader uncover creative potential.