The best books to make your marketing more creative

I’ve never read Eat, Pray, Love, but Big Magic showed me what the hype surrounding Eilzabeth Gilbert is all about. This book helped dispel some of the deep-seeded “artists die broke and alone” socially imparted beliefs that I didn’t even realize were hidden deep down there. It also gave me a language for talking about the ideas I have that aren’t right for me (or aren’t right for me right now), which is incredibly freeing. It strips the guilt, shame, and most of the frustration away from “writer’s block,” and that gave me a fresh perspective on creative thinking. 

While productivity and creativity might seem like strange bedfellows at first, this book taught me plenty of ways to think differently and to optimize my work with others. Since much of the best marketing is done in or by groups, effective group dynamics are key. This book also underscores how important it is to add processes, rules, and planning to seemingly unstructured work habits to make them more efficient. (I’m looking at you, nebulous “brainstorms” with no clear goal or code of conduct.)

This book is such a good read for anyone who creates written content (and that’s everybody… hence the title). I have sent this book as a gift to so many people—recent grads, colleagues, clients, and more—that sometimes my go-to online booksellers ask me if I’m sure I want to place my order, since I’ve already ordered the book multiple times prior. (Much like when Netflix asks you if you’re still watching, the answer is a resounding “Yes! Leave me alone and let’s keep this party going!”) My favorite thing about reading Ann Handley’s writing (whether it’s this book, her others, or her fortnightly newsletter, Total Annarchy) is that her voice is so tremendously engaging, consistent, and real. I don’t know what the writing equivalent of a blind taste test is, but if there is one, I’m nearly positive I’d be able to identify Ann’s writing. 

This book is a hefty one—I recommend the audiobook if you’ve got a bad back—but it will help you understand how your brain works in a way that almost no other book can. And the better you understand your mind, the better you’ll be able to make it do what you want, and how to protect yourself from the things that might otherwise sabotage your creative thinking.

I like to consider myself a generalist, in many ways, so I’d be lying if I said this book didn’t give me lots of warm-fuzzies. (It’s always good to get scientific validation that your approach to things is a good one.) The most creative people I know are those that have combined multiple careers, interests, or pursuits to arrive at their groundbreaking ideas, so this book is a must-read to grant yourself permission to explore the “unrelated” in your quest for the new.