The Creative Process: Stories from the Arts and Sciences

The Creative Process: Stories from the Arts and Sciences asks how celebrated works of art and breakthroughs in science came to be. What was the first inkling? What were the steps and missteps along the way? How was the process experienced by the creative person as it proceeded? And what are the implications for the psychology of the creative process?

Each chapter focuses on a specific creative endeavor, situating the work in the context of domain, culture, and historical era. Then it traces the development of the work―from what we know of its beginnings to its fulfillment. Qualitative materials―interviews, notebooks, diaries, sketches, drafts, and other writings―allow a story of the creative process as lived to emerge. The narratives exemplify established concepts in the psychology of creativity, propose broadening some, reveal the need for modification, and suggest new ones. Application of phenomenological frameworks illuminate the episodes in new ways as well. The case study approach proves again that each episode is unique, yet themes and variations come into view when the episodes are considered together in a final reflection.

From Darwin’s theory to an unusual jazz sound, here are 11 fascinating stories of how specific works took shape. Psychologists, students interested in creativity, and all those intrigued by the process in any creative field will find this book essential reading.

Charlotte L. Doyle, psychology professor at Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York, is an avid explorer of the creative process. She has written articles and book chapters on her research, on the educational implications of creativity findings, and on theoretical considerations such as how the features of flow challenge theories of cognition. She is also author of several textbooks including Explorations in Psychology and, to her surprise, seven picture books for children.