The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Chapter 53 advocates for the practice of openness in the artist’s lifestyle. Artists with an open mind do not value safety and smallness because they are constantly experimenting, taking risks, and challenging their own beliefs about the world: “Invite beliefs that are different from the ones you hold and try to see beyond your own filter” (284). This section includes purposeful experimentation with one’s standard tastes and the examination of one’s subjective criticism of high and low art. The practice of open-mindedness can also transfer into collaboration wherein artists consider all feedback equally and try new approaches to teamwork.

Rubin believes that artists who encounter roadblocks in their art, like a song veering from its typical genre, should follow these diversions rather than try to overcorrect. By stepping back and viewing the problem with an open mind, the artist may find that these challenges are potential directions for new work.

Chapter 54 advises artists who typically wait for strikes of inspiration to shift their creative approach to a more patient one. By focusing “less on the lightning bolt and more on the spaces surrounding it,” artists can observe, evaluate, and manipulate the conditions for inspiration (289).