book Archives - Rich Kirkpatrick

Creativity arrives in small Iterations, not giant leaps.

Rich KirkpatrickJune 20, 2023070 views

As a young person at music school, I lived 1800 miles from home. It seemed like a big leap, jumping from High School to accept a full scholarship to a music trade school. Another leap raised me to start as an 18-year-old sophomore. We are taught, especially in the arts, to be inspired and dream big. But to compose a symphony, we must start with a simple motif. The truth is this. It is in the small steps that creative genius arrives. When we make a leap, we either fall into the chasm or pay for it on the other side. You can’t expect to rise too fast. Like good bread making, the dough slowly rises in a little heat. Are you ready for the heat? I would play through several of Bach’s chorales every single day, among other habits. All of my efforts trained my ear and solidified my…

Want to unlock creative genius? My book MINDBLOWN can help!

Rich KirkpatrickJuly 30, 20220277 views

Why write a book about the creative process? Most people think creativity or innovation is something only a few have access to. I believe, with the help from brain scientists, researchers, and creative practitioners, that it’s a process we can learn. In fact, there is proof that we are ALL wired to be creative. What we need is a way to unlock this innate human ability. My book, MINDBLOWN: Unlock Your Creative Genius by Bridging Science and Magic, is finally here and shipping. I wrote this book after my experiences with institutions and leaders that were ill-equipped to guide creative ideas into reality. The focus on results over process fails us. What we need is a framework to allow us to be more human. Learn with me how to be a better person by being more human, which is the same as being more creative! Imagine your, your team or project generating more…

How does the creative process work?

Rich KirkpatrickAugust 2, 20211333 views

I am writing a new book about the creative process Many of my readers may not know that I have been writing a book about the creative process. It’s an idea I have chewed on and studied for several years. What is my progress? As of today, I have written a manuscript of about 60,000 words and am in the third draft of edits. My new book has a working title, too: MIND BLOWN: Bridging science and magic to unlock your creative genius. How does creativity actually work? I am curious. How does creativity work? How can we get better at it? A lot of books give us habits and systems to follow. I hope to explain well what I have found under the hood–the engine behind creativity! It is about bridges, connecting between opposing things. I have distilled it into three steps: The Dream, The Sandbox, and The Story. The…

Fight Evil With Poetry: A conversation with Micah Bournes

Rich KirkpatrickDecember 18, 201821.7K views

“Fight Evil With Poetry” is not just a clever catchphrase. This anthology is rooted in the conviction that creative expressions of love are merely high road, but the most effective form of resistance against injustice.” Micah Bourne, Editor of “Fight Evil With Poetry” I sat down to talk with recording artist and poet Micah Bournes in downtown Long Beach at one of those cool hipster coffee shops. This was not the first time I met him. Several years ago he performed at a conference of creatives in the Nashville area. His story then was as compelling as his spoken-word performances. This young, African-American man from Long Beach, California attended a very conservative all-white Bible school. Micah is an activist, but artist and poets don’t fight by the same rules of the general population. Power often is wielded to silence foes. Artists give everyone a voice in the vacuum to power…