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The Weekend University

Method Writing, Flexible Thinking, & Building Your Creativity Muscle — AJ Jacobs

Sep 26, 2024
A.J. Jacobs, a New York Times bestselling author known for his immersive nonfiction experiments, shares his creative journey. He discusses treating creativity like a muscle that can be trained through routine. Jacobs reveals how method writing shaped his career and offers tips for aspiring authors. He shares wild stories, including carrying a musket in New York City, to explore marketing within creative processes. With insights into flexible thinking, ethical meat consumption, and the essence of free speech, this conversation is a treasure trove for budding creatives.
01:03:32

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Creativity should be practiced daily, likened to a muscle that strengthens through brainstorming and pursuing viable ideas.
  • Method writing emphasizes deep immersion in subjects, enabling authors to gain valuable insights and authenticity in their writing process.

Deep dives

Creativity as a Muscle

Creativity is likened to a muscle that requires daily exercise to strengthen and develop. Engaging in a daily brainstorming session for 10 to 15 minutes allows for the generation of various ideas, spanning from potential articles or books to completely random thoughts. While most of these ideas may fall short of viability, a small percentage is often deemed good enough to pursue and can lead to successful creative endeavors such as books and businesses. This constant practice fosters an ongoing creative flow, enabling one to turn these fleeting thoughts into tangible projects.

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