This article applies a propulsion model of creative contributions to the ar
ts and letters. The basic notion is that creative contributions differ not
only in the amounts of creativity they display but also in the types of cre
ative contributions they make. The article opens with a general discussion
of creative contributions and next considers some existing models of creati
ve contributions. It then describes the propulsion model for understanding
creative contributions and suggests eight types of contributions that follo
w from the propulsion model. Next the article describes some contributions
in the arts and letters and shows how the propulsion model can be applied t
o understanding them. Finally the article discusses why such a model can be
useful in evaluating the status of creative work, of individuals, and of a
domain.