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Creativity and the Rules of Rhetoric
Author(s) -
WALTER OTIS M.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
the journal of creative behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.896
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 2162-6057
pISSN - 0022-0175
DOI - 10.1002/j.2162-6057.1967.tb00069.x
Subject(s) - creativity , period (music) , rhetoric , product (mathematics) , aesthetics , epistemology , psychology , linguistics , computer science , social psychology , philosophy , mathematics , geometry
The rules of rhetoric do not incorporate the conditions necessary for creativity, and hence some of these rules may stifle. Creativity, however, seems to follow a vague pattern involving relatively long, and sometimes laborious sub‐steps that must be carefully executed if the final product is to be of worth. The speaker or writer must undergo a preparation period, involving both direct preparation and indirect preparation. Usually, he will also experience a plateau period. The moment of insight may occur suddenly, and often while he is indulging in relaxing activity. The period of refining, which is necessary to make the final product perceptably of merit involves checking, proving and stating the insight. These processes do not lead inevitably to creativity, and some of them may be repeated more than others; nevertheless, speakers and writers may be more creative by intentionally trying to follow them.