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Start Ugly: The Unexpected Path to Everyday Creativity Paperback – July 17, 2020

by David Duchemin (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 103 ratings
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The poet Goethe is credited as saying, "What you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it, and the work will be completed!"
If only it were that easy.
In any creative effort, the beginning is the hard part, filled with fears and procrastinations, and---often most of all-the paralyzing desire to get it right on the first try (which almost never happens). Creativity is evolutionary; it begins with bad ideas and crappy first efforts and the moment we embrace this idea, not eschewing the ugly beginnings but mining them for possibilities, our everyday creativity flourishes.
Start Ugly is a celebration of the messy creative process and a call to face the obstacles of that process with mindfulness and humanity. This is a book for anyone who has ever wished they were "more creative." It's a plea to stop looking for the muses and inspiration before you do your best work. Equal parts needed encouragement to dream big and practical advice for getting your hands dirty, START UGLY is a soulful, at times irreverent, reminder that creativity is more the stuff of hard work and courage than it is the stuff of magic. And if there is magic at all to be found, it's in starting.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    160 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Craft & Vision Press
  4. Publication date
    July 17, 2020
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 0.37 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0991755790
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0991755790
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David duChemin is a best-selling author of 32 books, award-winning photographer, and leading expert in the field of creativity. His podcast and book, A Beautiful Anarchy, help him share his message with tens of thousands: a rich and fulfilling creative life is for everyone-not just artists. David spent the last twelve years travelling the world as a humanitarian photographer and creativity workshop instructor on all seven continents. His adventures have taken him through winters in Russia and Mongolia and a summer on the Amazon, as well as months among nomads in the Indian Himalaya and remote Northern Kenya. Drawing on a previous twelve-year career in comedy, David brings a dynamic and engaging presence as a presenter in workshops, on camera, or on stages for corporations like Apple and Amazon. His expertise has been profiled in magazines and podcasts including Overland Journal, Elephant Journal and The Accidental Creative. You can find David at davidduchemin.com, on Instagram and Facebook as @davidduchemin, and you can listen to his podcast. A Beautiful Anarchy is a heart-felt kick-in-the-pants podcast for everyday creators and anyone who's ever mud-wrestled with their muse. These 15-minute episodes are an honest and sensitive exploration of the joys and struggles of the creative life. Let's talk about it. Listen on iTunes or aBeautifulAnarchy.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Craft & Vision Press (July 17, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0991755790
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0991755790
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.37 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 103 ratings

About the author

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David DuChemin

David DuChemin

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David duChemin is a humanitarian photographer, best-selling author, adventurer, and advocate of the intentional creative life.

David duChemin is a world & humanitarian assignment photographer, best-selling author, digital publisher, and international workshop leader whose nomadic and adventurous life fuels his fire to create and share. Based in Victoria, Canada, when he's home, David leads a nomadic life chasing compelling images on all 7 continents.

When on assignment David creates powerful images that convey the hope and dignity of children, the vulnerable and oppressed for the international NGO community. When creating the art he so passionately shares, David strives to capture the beauty of the natural world.

David's travel has taken him through winters in Russia and Mongolia, a summer on the Amazon, spending time among nomads in the Indian Himalayan and remote Northern Kenya. He's done assignment work in Ecuador, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Ethiopia, Malawi, DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, Bangladesh, among others, and pursued personal work in places like Iceland, Antarctica, Tunisia, Cuba, Vietnam, Kenya, and Italy.

David's work and blog can be found at Davidduchemin.com.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
103 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Blake Grimes
5.0 out of 5 stars Very, very helpful
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2024
Verified Purchase
This book was a fundamental part of me getting over my perfectionism and starting writing again.
Would recommend to absolutely anybody
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Jeff Giuliano
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully inspirational, informative and encouraging!
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2020
Verified Purchase
I'm not a voracious reader but I found myself coming back to my Kindle to finish this book. I would say the book is about the psychology and philosophy behind the motivation of being creative, as David sees it. And I would agree with his viewpoint. The first part of the book is more theoretical. The second part of the book he gives the reader some practical advice to deal with the motivation or lack thereof of starting a creative project. Even though I mention the book has two seeming parts it is still a fairly short read yet packed with solid advice, peppered with David's enthusiasm, encouragement and informal writing style. I would recommend this book to anyone who struggles with getting motivated to start a creative endeavor, finds themselves to be stiflingly perfectionistic or just needs some encouragement to start or keep creating.
6 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Short, Sweet and Something to Read More Than Once
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is such a great and wise little book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the ideas presented. This will certainly be a book that I read several times. It is written by a photographer and podcaster but the ideas apply to any creative effort.
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Williedillo
5.0 out of 5 stars Read Everything You Can Find Written by David duChemin
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2021
Verified Purchase
David’s writing resonates with me. I always feel connected to a kindred spirit when reading David’s books, blog posts, or listening to his podcast. He’s a remarkable human being. I’m blessed that I’ve found his work.
2 people found this helpful
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peaches87
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book
Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2020
Verified Purchase
Another super helpful and great book from David duChemin! Definitely gives you the nudge you need to start whatever creative endeavor you've been putting off. Well written and makes you think. He never fails to inspire.
2 people found this helpful
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GG
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2020
If I could give this more than a 5-star rating, I would. Excellent doesn’t even define this book. So much of his writings resonated with me and with many other people I’ve previously spoken with about these same issues, just grappling with answers, pulling at air straws. I just happened to stumble across this book on Amazon and am so glad I did. It was very difficult to put this book down. I wanted to keep reading it until I was done. I was flying through the pages, just eating everything up.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Lee Kneisz
5.0 out of 5 stars Great advice
Reviewed in Canada on October 4, 2020
Verified Purchase
If you like his podcast then you'll love the book. Great, practical advice from a veteran photographer.
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