An "Untitled" Book Review

In exchange for writing a book review for this blog, I received a complimentary copy of the book.

            Blaine Hogan’s Untitled offers a refreshing look into the multidimensional world of creativity. Hogan works as a creative arts director for Willow Creek Community Church and has a background in theatre.

            Hogan begins the book with a metaphor of the blank page. “The blank page represents the murky space before the bubbling idea has enough form to be named…” Throughout the book, the underlying theme is that the creative process requires work. To go from a blank page to a story worth telling means that you have to be creating something. Hogan repeatedly states that execution is more important than simply having an idea, and execution is dirty work because sometimes you get rejected. At the same time, you can’t undersell your idea. That’s the cheap way out. You have to dig down and commit everything to your own ideas.  

            Hogan outlines the book in a way that allows the ideas to flow from point A to point B. There are no “chapters”; rather, there are “movements.” They all touch on important factors about creativity, like the necessity of having art come from your heart. The connection between art and God is a clear theme in this book. One with which I wholeheartedly agree. Hogan believes our expression or art reflects our relationship with God. Hogan states, “Our art…becomes our confession.” I think this is a beautiful statement. What better way to honor God than with something as precious as art.

             Untitled wraps up with the emphasis Hogan places on never giving up. He says that resistance is trying to destroy any creative ideas you may have. You have to face your inner critic and throw it away. Hogan includes a refreshing story about when he worked as a youth arts camp. He noticed the children were having trouble facing their inner critics. He told them to think of it as if it is there on their shoulders. Every morning, they would grab this critic and throw him out in the alleyway. Hogan suggests using a similar tactic when you start to hear your inner critic throwing some resistance your way.

            Untitled is an enjoyable, thoughtful, and unique treatise on Blaine Hogan’s ideas related to the creative process. It is wonderfully written and is full of humor and wit. Hogan weaves in personal anecdotes and stories to help clarify any ideas or notions that he presents. It is a thought-provoking piece that will challenge the way you think about creativity.