The Creator's Dilemma

The Creator's Dilemma is a book written by Emil Hartman. Various excerpts from the book can be found within The Alan Wake Files.

Description[]

Dr. Emil Hartman’s The Creator’s Dilemma was an unusual publication in that while it targeted a mass-audience with its promises of creative growth and renewal, it was underpinned by vaguely cosmic theories relating to the powers of artists. His insistent caveat that one could only hope to benefit from these methods by becoming a “guest” at the Cauldron Lake Lodge suggests, in this editor’s opinion, that he was motivated by an ulterior agenda. Whether it be financial or another, darker purpose remains difficult to assess

― The Alan Wake Files

Book Topics[]

Creaters dilemma — The in-game edition of the book, with a cover featuring Hartman

The full topic excerpts can be found on pages 90-101 in "The Alan Wake Files".

Preface: The Instruments of Creation[]

Dreams That Wake Monsters[]

Engagement Therapy™ and The Flow™[]

Liberation from the Self[]

Creatio Ex Nihlio[]

Trivia[]

In Control, Federal Bureau of Control agent Frederick Langston, upon hearing that the Bureau had detained Dr. Emil Hartman, attempted to sneak into the Bright Falls AWE area and get Hartman to sign his copy of The Creator's Dilemma. However, Langston quickly discovered that Hartman had become Taken, and all he accomplished was angering the Bureau's security forces, who interrogated him about his intentions, and confiscated his copy of the book, which seemed unlikely to be returned to him.
The excerpts found in The Alan Wake Files mention two patients not seen in game; Philip Musil, a playwright who eventually created a six-hour opus called Nightfall, and Daniel Sanders, a sculptor who fell into a stupor, transfixed by visions within a block of white limestone that he had once intended to carve.
The book appears to be a reference of "Self Matters" by Phillip C. McGraw, more commonly known as "Dr. Phil".

The Creator's Dilemma

Contents