In 2009, my writing professor, Ira Sachs, suggested we all read Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit as part of our class. His reasoning was that the purpose of writing class is to eventually create something. And the sooner we realized that was our focus, the better. Ira used the class as a forcing function to make a short film, Last Address, which screened at Sundance and Berlin.

I chanced upon the book recently and it made me go into the rabbit hole on Twyla. What an amazing and talented person. This video interview of her captures her essence, which is all about carpe diem, or “shut up and do what you love.”

She’s still creating at a world-class level.

So should we all. So, let’s do it.

I’m proposing that to end this year with panache, we read The Creative Habit, talk about it, and form our own creative habits.

I’m committed to doing this with my friend and poet, Ellen. Let me know if you can join us. Would love to have you.

Here’s how you can join:

1. Buy the book. You can buy it in Kindle or paperback. The paperback is beautifully designed.
2. Sign up: DM me on Twitter to get the calendar invites!
3. Read 4 of the (super quick) chapters by November 19th and join our Zoom call that day at 9am PST. We’ll share our takeaways and prompt a discussion in the group.
4. Read 4 chapters by December 3rd and join our Zoom call that day at 9am PST.
5. Read the final 4 chapters by December 17th and join our Zoom call that day at 9am PST.

DM me on Twitter to get the calendar invites!