Over at the Guardian, Robert McCrum raises the question of where we develop creativity, where is the space to nurture inspiration? The discussion in the comments is interesting, partly because it reveals how differently people approach the question of being a writer (or any creative artist) and partly because of how varied is their definition and appreciation of creativity. So for some, blogging is writing. For others, it’s not.

It fascinates me that a mystique still hangs around creative artists. In an earlier post I mused about writers as shamans–storytellers who give people a way of understanding and acting in their world. To my shame I haven’t picked up and pursued this idea. But maybe this need for a shaman is the creative artist’s mystique?