Comic argues it's a skill anyone can acquire

John Cleese has written a short guide to creativity, to be published this autumn.

In the 128-page title, the Fawlty Towers and Monty Python legend argues against the notion that creativity is’ ‘a mysterious, rare gift that only a few possess’. 

Instead, he argues, it’s a skill that anyone can acquire.

Publishers Hutchinson say: ‘Drawing on his lifelong experience as a writer, [Cleese] shares his insights into the nature of the creative process, and offers advice on how to get your own inventive juices flowing. What do you need to do to get yourself in the right frame of mind? When do you know that you’ve come up with something that might be worth pursuing? What do you do if you think you’ve hit a brick wall?

‘Not only does he explain the way your mind works as you search for inspiration, he also shows that, regardless of the task you’ve set yourself, you can learn to be better at coming up with a promising idea, refining it and knowing when you’re ready to act on it.’

The comic himself told trade website The Bookseller: ‘Many people have written about creativity, but although they were very, very clever, they weren’t actually creative. I like to think I’m writing about it from the inside.’

And Nigel Wilcockson, from the publisher, said: ‘No one knows more about creativity than John Cleese. Prepare to learn at the feet of the master’.

• Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide by John Cleese will be released on September 3. Click here to order for £8.79 in hardback or £4.99 in e-edition.

Published: 19 May 2020