Confusion about the nature of creativity has misled efforts to promote creative thinking. There is no general essence of creativity, no shared quality that is part of all creative ideas, performances, or products. What makes a painting, a song, or a dance creative varies, just as what constitutes expertise varies across domains. And just as learning what a haiku is will not increase one’s expertise in cooking, developing creative-thinking skills helpful in writing poetry will not make one a more creative chef. The implications for creative training will be explored.

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