For writers (or artists, musicians, etc.) creativity can be a mysterious and at times elusive entity.

It can be a wonderful thing; but if not captured immediately, can also torture us until the end of time.

Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love, knows this pain. She understands the at-times impossible expectations that are put on artists — and has come up with an ingenious way of never losing that great idea.

Giving a TED talk, she makes the fascinating distinction between being a genius and having a genius.

Check it out:

Look, she had a genius!

For more TED videos, check out TED.com.