Creative Quest by Questlove Provides A Creative Hall Pass
By: Harry Wahl
Tags: Creativity, Creative Process, Book Recommendations, Books, Book Review

I find that self-help or how-to books typically fall into one of two categories. The writer tells you in a very specific way how to do something or they give you a process of figuring out how to do something. The former comes off as pompous while the latter displays an understanding that no two situations are alike. It’s the difference between being given a fish and being taught how to fish. Creative Quest by Questlove teaches you how to fish.

If you are familiar with Questlove it’s likely from his role as the drummer and front man for The Roots on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. However, the musician’s creative credentials expand well beyond what you see in late night television. With experience as a DJ, radio host, film maker, and author, Questlove is more than qualified to share his thoughts on creativity.

The Gist Of It

Creative Quest is a practical journey through the creative process by creatives for creatives. Questlove gives practical tips for producing art and tips to help the artist as an individual. With advice on taking criticism, finding mentors, and growing as an artist, this book serves as a convenient guide for creatives of any level. Drawing on his previous life experiences as well as conversations with professionals in music, acting, art, and the culinary arts, Questlove puts forward a collective wisdom on how to overcome creative hurdles.

Key Takeaways

Be a tourist

Habits are great and allow us to be productive and get into a rhythm. But they also can be an unwelcome invitation to a creative rut. Questlove suggests actively being a tourist even in familiar waters to bring a different perspective to the table and to creative work. For digital marketers consider examining top landing pages once a month as if it’s for the first time to draw new connections between initiatives or to find new opportunities for improvement.

Tend to ideas like a garden

It’s natural to get excited about an idea and want to hit the ground running right away. But what happens when the inspiration leaves? The idea stumbles across the finish line or fizzles out beforehand. Instead organize ideas and tend to them over time by returning to them often and letting them grow. In business keep a running list of ideas to track and amend as opportunities arise or new information is found.

Be your own beta tester

Think of how content looks from the other side of the screen. Take time to remove the marketing hat and put on a user or customer hat instead to walk through how users interact with a website or product. Similar to being a tourist this can help identify areas where a lack of inside knowledge can be a barrier to outsiders.

This Book Is Great For…

Creative Quest by Questlove is great for anyone who considers what they do to be creative. That may seem broad but Creative Quest casts a wide net in it’s tips and advice. Music lovers will appreciate Questlove’s musical collaboration stories.

Usually this is the type of book I enjoy having a physical copy of to reference. However, I decided to listen to the audiobook version which ended up being a real treat. The audiobook version is full of new music from Questlove and has musical references throughout.