Creative DNA

In Twyla Tharp’s book, The Creative Habit, she defines a set of questions that help us to understand our own “Creative Code”.

Of this concept, Twyla says:

“These strands are as solidly imprinted in us as the genetic code that determines our height and eye color, except they govern our creative impulses. They determine the forms we work in, the stories we tell, and how we tell them.”

These questions help us to understand our creative origins, impulses and habits. Twyla answers these questions for us in her book, and she asks the reader to do the same for themselves. If you’re curious about this exercise, I want to encourage you to set aside 30 minutes to explore.

Don’t hold any of it too heavily. My first memory of a creative moment was entangled with macaroni, cardboard and spray paint, as I was making a mother’s day gift for my mom in pre-school. We’re not talking high artistic form here, but it was creative, and it was a memory filled with joy (and potentially a little buzz off of the fumes from the gold spray paint).

Some of the questions get a little bit artsy - like, who is your favorite artist? You could talk about ANY artist here - writer, painter, director, You Tuber or even athlete. Don’t get hung up on the word “artist” - think of this as a more fluid term, and as anyone who is a “creator”.

Have fun, and if you’re so inclined, share your answers!

1. What is the first creative moment you remember?
2. Was anyone there to witness or appreciate it?
3. What is the best idea you’ve ever had?
4. What made it great in your mind?
5. What is the dumbest idea you’ve ever had?
6. What made it stupid?
7. Can you connect the dots that led you to this idea?
8. What is your creative ambition?
9. What are the obstacles to this ambition?
10. What are the vital steps to achieving this ambition?
11. How do you begin your day?
12. What are your habits? What patterns do you repeat?
13. Describe your first successful creative act.
14. Describe your second successful creative act.
15. Compare them.
16. What are your attitudes toward: money, power, praise, rivals, work, play?
17. Which artists do you admire most?
18. Why are they your role models?
19. What do you and your role models have in common?
20. Does anyone in your life regularly inspire you?
21. Who is your muse?
22. Define muse.
23. When confronted with superior intelligence or talent, how do you respond?
24. When faced with stupidity, hostility, intransigence, laziness, or indifference in others, how do you respond?
25. When faced with the threat of failure, how do you respond?
26. When you work, do you love the process or the result?
27. At what moments do you feel your reach exceeds your grasp?
28. What is your ideal creative activity?
29. What is your greatest fear?
30. What is the likelihood of either of the answers to the previous two questions happening?
31. Which of your answers would you most like to change?
32. What is your idea of mastery?
33. What is your greatest dream?