John Vorhaus works as a creative consultant for television networks and film production companies, and has taught creative writing in 17 countries. He is also the author of The Comic Toolbox, a resource book for comedy writers.

Creativity Rules had me chuckling from the start and is a wonderful reminder that learning to laugh at yourself is a great way to deal with the rejection and frustration that is a part of the writing industry. John aims to help writers regain their power to create their own writing, by making the decisions to start projects without needing to finish them, create and kill characters, try different genres of writing, different methods of generating ideas, and make the wrong choices once in a while.

As a writing teacher, Vorhaus is well-known for his creative approach to problems like writer’s block and idea block. Creativity Rules is packed with tips and tricks to help shake the reader out of a rut, but Vorhaus’s most consistent advice is to develop a solid writing routine – in effect a “practice” of writing daily wherever possible which steadily improves the quality of the writing craft.

I’ve mentioned before that I don’t like to use writing prompts – Creativity Rules is filled with writing prompts, but these follow examples and advice that can stand on their own. Towards the end of the book, the prompts are almost like fun party games, which are ideal for relieving boredom.

Vorhaus considers exercises to be a valuable part of the practicing side of writing, building muscle and stamina, and exercising the brain by making it think and work in a different way to normal. Vorhaus argues the point well, and I think I might get around to trying a few of his exercises, as I’ve already recognised ways I can improve some of my weaker areas. John makes this look easy, and fun - particularly when he offers this suggestion on how to begin: “If you have a word processor, you can open a file and label it ‘workbook’. If you have a cocktail napkin you can label it ‘workbook’ and use that instead. Results may vary.”¹

There is so much covered in this book, that it is definitely one I will have to read a few times. I have sticky notes all over it already. Although some of the ideas are geared towards screenwriters, most of the advice is generic to all fiction, and even some creative non-fiction. Beginners will benefit from working through Creativity Rules slowly – I don’t recommend trying to read it all at once if you’re just starting out. More advanced writers will also find plenty in this book to spark some new ideas and new ways of approaching some of your more stagnant areas.


¹ Creativity Rules! A Writer’s Workbook by John Vorhaus, 2000, Silman-James Press, Page 3

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