The Creative Spiral by Glass, Cordele;

Short description:

Drawing from personal and professional creative experiences as well as contemporary research in creativity psychology, positive psychology, and developmental science, the book presents a unique model that helps readers explore where they are in their own creative journey and how to move forward with greater clarity, and confidence.

Long description:

The Creative Spiral provides a comprehensive roadmap for understanding how creativity and identity develop together across the lifespan. Drawing from personal and professional creative experiences as well as contemporary research in creativity psychology, positive psychology, and developmental science, this book presents a unique model that helps readers explore where they are in their own creative journey and how to move forward with greater clarity, purpose, and confidence.

Across four stages and 12 interconnected chapters, readers learn how to build strong creative foundations, expand their capacities, develop expertise, and cultivate the wisdom needed to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the wider world. Each chapter blends research-supported insights with reflective prompts and practical action steps designed to help readers deepen self-awareness, strengthen creative habits, and navigate challenges such as self-doubt, burnout, or creative blocks.

This book is written for artists, educators, therapists, coaches, students, entrepreneurs, arts-practitioners, and anyone seeking to understand their creative lives more fully.

Readers will gain a powerful framework for making sense of their experiences, reconnecting with their intrinsic motivations, and engaging more intentionally with their creative development. Whether beginning a new chapter or refining a long-standing practice, The Creative Spiral offers guidance for becoming a more grounded, purposeful, and connected creative person.

“The Creative Spiral brilliantly illuminates the science of creativity and offers concrete tools and thoughtful wisdom. This unique book meets readers exactly where they are on their creative journey and can help them move forward with curiosity, openness, and intentional growth.”

Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, Columbia University, USA

“The Creative Spiral brings solid creativity research to life in a way that’s personal, practical, and deeply encouraging. It’s a rare book that honors both the science and the lived experience of being creative. It captures how the self evolves through creative work and shows how the process can be both scientifically rigorous and personally meaningful.”

Dr. Mark Runco, Aalto University, Finland

“The Creative Spiral feels like a conversation with someone who truly understands what it means to live a creative life. Drawing on the best of psychology without getting lost in theory, it offers practical ideas to help readers find their own creative rhythm. What stands out most is the care it shows for the reader’s experience, meeting us with empathy and insight as we explore what it means to be creative.” 

Dr. Sabrina Habib, University of South Carolina, USA

Table of Contents:

About the Author  Introduction  Stage One — Creative Foundations  Chapter One — The Grounded Self  Chapter Two — The Playful Self  Chapter Three — The Accepted Self  Stage Two — Creative Expansion  Chapter Four — The Curious Self  Chapter Five — The Competent Self  Chapter Six — The Embedded Self  Stage Three — Creative Expertise  Chapter Seven — The Purposeful Self  Chapter Eight — The Professional Self  Chapter Nine — The Public Self  Stage Four — Creative Wisdom  Chapter Ten — The Transcendent Self  Chapter Eleven — The Innovative Self  Chapter Twelve — The Ecological Self  Conclusion  Glossary  Index