Skip to content
Words of Wisdom

Julia Cameron: “The creative process is a process of surrender, not control.”

“The creative process is a process of surrender, not control… Mystery is at the heart of creativity. That, and surprise.” -Julia Cameron, American artist, from The Artist’s Way, 1992  
Sign up for Big Think on Substack
The most surprising and impactful new stories delivered to your inbox every week, for free.

Julia Cameron (b. 1948) is an American artist and author famous for her 1992 self-help book The Artist’s Way. Her artistic philosophy is founded on a belief that creativity is bred from self-confidence, personal development, and divine influence (rather than from the human ego). Cameron, who was once married to Martin Scorsese, is a prolific writer who has authored over three dozen books, plays, and film scripts.


“The creative process is a process of surrender, not control… Mystery is at the heart of creativity. That, and surprise.”

-Julia Cameron, American artist, from The Artist’s Way1992

(h/t WikiQuote)

You can follow Julia Cameron on Twitter. Her newest book is The Artist’s Way for Parents: Raising Creative Children.

Sign up for Big Think on Substack
The most surprising and impactful new stories delivered to your inbox every week, for free.

Related
The hospital where Rainn Wilson’s wife and son nearly died became his own personal holy site. There, he discovered that the sacred can exist in places we least expect it. During his talk at A Night of Awe and Wonder, he explained how the awe we feel in moments of courage and love is moral beauty — and following it might be the start of our spiritual revolution.
13 min
with

Up Next