When I first went searching for TED Talks, I tried typing phrases into google like “TED TALK creativity” or “TED TALK Writing” or “Top TED Talks on Writing.” At the top of nearly every list was a talk by Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing creativity.
Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, is one of those writers that I’ve avoided. In hindsight, I feel a bit like one of those hipster Indie music lovers who love Modest Mouse or Franz Ferdinand or the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs until they realize that other people are listening to them. I’ve never “listened” to Gilbert, but I avoided her because she was popular.
Boy am I glad that I watched this. Gilbert confirmed much of what this Writer’s March is all about: showing up. Twenty minutes long, but well worth it. The first time I watched it, I wrote for several hours. I hope it does the same for you.
NOTE FROM JENN: I had trouble getting this video to connect, so here is the link on the TED site: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html
A Writer's March 
definitely worth the 20 minutes! I’ve liked her articles, but was not much of a fan of Eat Pray Love… I did however enjoy her talk when she came to UNM a couple of years ago. I remember one thing that resonated with me was that it was not HER job to tell herself “no” …. that was the job of some poor guy at The New Yorker who was paid to read slush. Changed my perspective on submitting work for sure.