*The Creative Heart* is the third book published by Martín Avdolov—who works as a communicator, publicist, screenwriter, and writer, as well as a professor in the Bachelor’s Degree in Communication program. While his first two books were works of fiction, this one explores the topic of creativity.
The book is available for free download. You can also purchase it on Amazon to support the Emocionarte Civil Association.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV8cpOJJZuw
When did the idea (or the need) to write *The Creative Heart* first arise?
I was immersed in another literary project when, in the midst of a deep reflection on my personal and professional creative work, I decided to share some of my experiences. I focused my energy on this new project because I felt it was the perfect time to give back to the world many of the lessons I had learned over the years.
What is the book about?
Through personal anecdotes, I explore various lessons about the creative process.
Above all, I aim to demystify some of the challenges associated with creativity and raise awareness that connecting with our creativity means connecting with our very essence. Another key point is recognizing that creativity is a skill within everyone’s reach.
Why do you recommend that students (and professionals as well) read it?
Above all, I recommend it because it’s inspiring. It’s the perfect book for anyone who thinks they aren’t creative. You’ll discover that creativity is much closer than you think.
Why a free book?
Why not?
If the book is downloaded from Amazon, the proceeds go to the Emocionarte Civil Association.
Responsible Education is an emotional, social, and creativity education program that promotes the holistic development of children and young people in Uruguay by helping them build life skills and competencies through better management of emotions—such as empathy, anxiety management, resilience, and self-esteem.
The program was developed by Yale University, the University of Cantabria, and the Botín Foundation, and is currently being implemented in 230 schools across Spain, making a positive impact on the lives of 10,000 teachers and 70,000 children and adolescents. This initiative in Uruguay marks the first time the program has been rolled out outside of Spain.
I believe that emotional skills are becoming increasingly important in the world to come. I think it is essential to support young people who do not have easy access to these kinds of tools in order to contribute to the future of society.
What was it like to publish independently? What did you take away from that experience?
It was incredibly rewarding because I had to be involved in every stage of the book, not just the writing.
In any case, even though it wasn't through a publishing house, the usual roles were still involved: I hired everyone from a proofreader to a top-tier professional editor.
The cover art is by the brilliant Dani Scharf [B.A. in Graphic Design from Universidad ORT Uruguay], who also wrote the foreword; he is an extremely talented artist, and it is an honor to have his contribution.
What is your assessment now that the process is complete?
That’s an excellent question, and I don’t have a proper answer yet—I suppose because it’s still so soon after I finished writing it. I hope I’ll be able to answer it better in a few months.