Steve shows you the predictable Resistance points that every writer hits in a work-in-progress and then shows you how to deal with each one of these sticking points. This book shows you how to keep going with your work.
A short book about the writing of a first novel: for Steve, The Legend of Bagger Vance. Having failed with three earlier attempts at novels, here's how Steve finally succeeded.
Steve shares his "lessons learned" from the trenches of the five different writing careers—advertising, screenwriting, fiction, nonfiction, and self-help. This is tradecraft. An MFA in Writing in 197 pages.
Amateurs have amateur habits. Pros have pro habits. When we turn pro, we give up the comfortable life but we find our power. Steve answers the question, "How do we overcome Resistance?"
Andy…a fortunate random moment for me re “Larry Olivier”.. I was living in London with my family in 1958. My mother had a MA in English. We had only been there a couple of months and she wanted to take me to see a play at Stratford Upon Avon. The name of the play was Corialanus. We had moved from Denver and my exposure to the “arts” were Western movies. I was in 8th grade
As the play was being introduced the presenter said ” So and So (forget now) is not going be be playing the starring role, but it will be played by a young actor by the name of Laurence Oliver.This will be his first appearance at SUA.
We were accompanied by a young and upcoming actress Anne Price,who was the daughter of one of my parents friends, a Dr Price, who was apparently a colleague of Dr. Pasteur
We got to go back stage after the play and meet Larry as his friends called him because of Anne. All I remember was he was very sweaty, handsome and had the most distinguished accent I had ever heard.
Anne later changed her stage name to Henderson,which really pleased my mom..She said she wanted to quit living in the shadow of her famous dad and brother who was a star rugby player at Oxford.
I really enjoyed your comment so thought you might enjoy that history..
As Steve and I have talked about many times regarding golf and anything…it is that dannable concept of practice..first its resistance and then practice…like 10,000 hours !! Have a great 4th..Take the day off Mike
I was sorry to have missed last week’s post in real time. I was in a forest with no internet, phone, or indoor plumbing. I was unlearning and jettisoning the baggage. Take time to reconnect to yourself. Stay true all, create, and have a great week.
It’s a lot to consider. It’s a whole different adjustment in my being. If I concentrate on the way you put it, Mr Pressfield, I can feel it.
I know very little about color theory. Instead, I feel the colors. In the zone, I feel my way through all of it, colors, form, message. So, if I AM my painting and sculptures…. I should be able to feel that too. This kinda puts a different slant on things. It’s that euphoria when things are falling into place and you are just a part of it.
I write a lot of poetry and for some reason I can connect with the idea that they are me, more than I can my sculptures or paintings.
There’s also that feeling where you wonder, how did I do that? Did I do that? And you question if you were entirely alone. That spooky feeling.
Right on, Kathy. How did I do that? Did I do that?
I was at my Monday night painting class working on a painting I struggled with the last three weeks. The other two women were talking. It took a moment to realize they were addressing me. One said “it must be going good over there. She’s so quiet.” I realized it was going well. All I had left to do was my signature.
Spooky, yes but also kind of cool.
Good advice, as usual.
Focus on the work, not on negative or positive comments about it, and certainly not on any negative thoughts about anybody else. To actually make something takes all the energy and focus that you have.
When I see myself in a video that someone has recorded for example, I say “that’s definitely not me”. Indeed my matter, my moves, my smile, my energy, all these realities, they are all strange and unfamiliar. They are not me, they are estranged.
How can it be that I am my creation after I’ve created it? I guess it would seem to me as strange and unfamiliar as my video image. So true, but also so “not me at all”.
My creation (the book) is also so wrong. I change it all the time. The end result is a Frankenstein monster.
I was surprised by what my corporate keyboard told me and others I was then. I’m even more surprised by what my pen tells me I am now.
You don’t find your purpose. Your purpose finds you.
Brilliant post, simple yet profound, 70 words, 7th grade English, almost as good as Hemingway 🙂
We are defined by our work. Not by the awards we win, not by the books we sell, not by Amazon stars, not by positive reviews, not by the money we make, not by the number of twitter followers we have – this is the smoke, not the fire
Case in point: Vincent van Gogh, a dude who lived on handouts all his life, only sold one painting during his lifetime and killed himself before he reached his prime – yet his work lives on and is now considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time
What Steve is saying is (I think) is that even if no-one is buying your paintings, reading your books, listening to your music or buying your products, keep painting, writing, composing and entrepreneuring!
Though let’s hope you get discovered before Vincent did 🙂
And definitely don’t kill yourself – imagine what VvG would have produced if he lived to 107 instead of 37 – the whole world still weeps at the thought…
Patronu aradığında sürekli hasta olduğunu söyleyerek iş yerine yalan söylüyor
porno hikaye Patronu artık bu kadarının gerçek olamayacağını ve rapor görmek istediğini dile getirip telefonu kapatıyor
türbanlı Olgun kadın hemen bilgisayarının başına geçip özel bir doktor buluyor ve onu arayarak evine davet ediyor
porno Muayene için eve gelen doktor olgun kadını muayene ediyor ve hiç bir sıkıntı olmadığını söylüyor
brazzers porno Sarışın ablamız ise iş yerine rapor götürmesi gerektiğini bu yüzden rapor yazmasını istiyor
brazzers porno fakat doktor bunun pek mümkün olmadığını dile getiriyor
sex hikayeleri Daha sonra evli olan bu kahpe doktora iş atarak ona yavşıyor ve istediğini alana kadar durmuyor
Porno İzle Karılarını takas etmek isteyen elemanlar hep birlikte evde buluşuyor
türkçe porno Güzel vakit geçirdikten sonra kızlara isteklerini iletiyorlar ve hatunlarda kocalarının bu isteklerini kabul ediyorlar
seks hikayeleri Hemen ellerine telefonları alan elemanlar karılarına video eşliğinde sakso çektiriyorlar
porno izle Hiç beklemeden sikişe geçen elemanlar hatunları değiştire değiştire sikmeye başlıyorlar.
Patronu aradığında sürekli hasta olduğunu söyleyerek iş yerine yalan söylüyor
porno hikaye Patronu artık bu kadarının gerçek olamayacağını ve rapor görmek istediğini dile getirip telefonu kapatıyor
türbanlı Olgun kadın hemen bilgisayarının başına geçip özel bir doktor buluyor ve onu arayarak evine davet ediyor
porno Muayene için eve gelen doktor olgun kadını muayene ediyor ve hiç bir sıkıntı olmadığını söylüyor
brazzers porno Sarışın ablamız ise iş yerine rapor götürmesi gerektiğini bu yüzden rapor yazmasını istiyor
brazzers porno fakat doktor bunun pek mümkün olmadığını dile getiriyor
sex hikayeleri Daha sonra evli olan bu kahpe doktora iş atarak ona yavşıyor ve istediğini alana kadar durmuyor
Porno İzle Karılarını takas etmek isteyen elemanlar hep birlikte evde buluşuyor
türkçe porno Güzel vakit geçirdikten sonra kızlara isteklerini iletiyorlar ve hatunlarda kocalarının bu isteklerini kabul ediyorlar
seks hikayeleri Hemen ellerine telefonları alan elemanlar karılarına video eşliğinde sakso çektiriyorlar
porno izle Hiç beklemeden sikişe geçen elemanlar hatunları değiştire değiştire sikmeye başlıyorlar.
“tennis without a net”
No learning or development being Laurence Olivier in your bedroom!
Andy…a fortunate random moment for me re “Larry Olivier”.. I was living in London with my family in 1958. My mother had a MA in English. We had only been there a couple of months and she wanted to take me to see a play at Stratford Upon Avon. The name of the play was Corialanus. We had moved from Denver and my exposure to the “arts” were Western movies. I was in 8th grade
As the play was being introduced the presenter said ” So and So (forget now) is not going be be playing the starring role, but it will be played by a young actor by the name of Laurence Oliver.This will be his first appearance at SUA.
We were accompanied by a young and upcoming actress Anne Price,who was the daughter of one of my parents friends, a Dr Price, who was apparently a colleague of Dr. Pasteur
We got to go back stage after the play and meet Larry as his friends called him because of Anne. All I remember was he was very sweaty, handsome and had the most distinguished accent I had ever heard.
Anne later changed her stage name to Henderson,which really pleased my mom..She said she wanted to quit living in the shadow of her famous dad and brother who was a star rugby player at Oxford.
I really enjoyed your comment so thought you might enjoy that history..
As Steve and I have talked about many times regarding golf and anything…it is that dannable concept of practice..first its resistance and then practice…like 10,000 hours !! Have a great 4th..Take the day off Mike
Leap and the net appears, love your writing.
Is it resistance judging what is me?
Thank you for reminding me of this, Steven! ❤️
I was sorry to have missed last week’s post in real time. I was in a forest with no internet, phone, or indoor plumbing. I was unlearning and jettisoning the baggage. Take time to reconnect to yourself. Stay true all, create, and have a great week.
Jackie…. 💜
BOOM!
Yes.
Thank you. I need to make some adjustments, I think.
🍃🌸🍃
It’s a lot to consider. It’s a whole different adjustment in my being. If I concentrate on the way you put it, Mr Pressfield, I can feel it.
I know very little about color theory. Instead, I feel the colors. In the zone, I feel my way through all of it, colors, form, message. So, if I AM my painting and sculptures…. I should be able to feel that too. This kinda puts a different slant on things. It’s that euphoria when things are falling into place and you are just a part of it.
I write a lot of poetry and for some reason I can connect with the idea that they are me, more than I can my sculptures or paintings.
There’s also that feeling where you wonder, how did I do that? Did I do that? And you question if you were entirely alone. That spooky feeling.
Hummm. Stuff to think about.
🍃🌸🍃
Right on, Kathy. How did I do that? Did I do that?
I was at my Monday night painting class working on a painting I struggled with the last three weeks. The other two women were talking. It took a moment to realize they were addressing me. One said “it must be going good over there. She’s so quiet.” I realized it was going well. All I had left to do was my signature.
Spooky, yes but also kind of cool.
I love this image, Jackie!
Jackie!, you were in the zone! Mega cool.
🍃🌸🍃
And how do you articulate the difference between the artist & the entrepreneur?
Just like Howard Roark, eh, Steven?😎☮️🤙
Yes. every time. YES.
Yeah, man. Tons of great quotes from artists along these lines:
“I don’t have my novel outlined and I have to write to discover what I am doing.” — Flannery O’Connor
“I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking.” — Joan Didion
“You write to find out what it is that you’re writing.” — E.L. Doctorow
“I never know what I think about something until I read what I’ve written on it.” — William Faulkner
“I write to find out what I think.” — Stephen King
I sincerely hope what you say is true.
Thank you! Really needed to read that .. it’s a profound insight.
Much gratitude.. x
I love all the comments. Especially Kathy’s about the spooky feeling. Did I do that alone? Is it real or is it Memorex?
Nic, and you relate, right? Isn’t it crazy?
🍃🌸🍃
Good advice, as usual.
Focus on the work, not on negative or positive comments about it, and certainly not on any negative thoughts about anybody else. To actually make something takes all the energy and focus that you have.
Love this, thank you!
But what if “me” is also an idea, a creation?
Thank you so much dear Steve.
That’s so strange.
When I see myself in a video that someone has recorded for example, I say “that’s definitely not me”. Indeed my matter, my moves, my smile, my energy, all these realities, they are all strange and unfamiliar. They are not me, they are estranged.
How can it be that I am my creation after I’ve created it? I guess it would seem to me as strange and unfamiliar as my video image. So true, but also so “not me at all”.
My creation (the book) is also so wrong. I change it all the time. The end result is a Frankenstein monster.
Food for thought.
(It’s me Tolis)
The essence of “The Artist’s Journey” condensed into a single blog post! Well done, Steve!
I was surprised by what my corporate keyboard told me and others I was then. I’m even more surprised by what my pen tells me I am now.
You don’t find your purpose. Your purpose finds you.
Brilliant post, simple yet profound, 70 words, 7th grade English, almost as good as Hemingway 🙂
We are defined by our work. Not by the awards we win, not by the books we sell, not by Amazon stars, not by positive reviews, not by the money we make, not by the number of twitter followers we have – this is the smoke, not the fire
Case in point: Vincent van Gogh, a dude who lived on handouts all his life, only sold one painting during his lifetime and killed himself before he reached his prime – yet his work lives on and is now considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time
What Steve is saying is (I think) is that even if no-one is buying your paintings, reading your books, listening to your music or buying your products, keep painting, writing, composing and entrepreneuring!
Though let’s hope you get discovered before Vincent did 🙂
And definitely don’t kill yourself – imagine what VvG would have produced if he lived to 107 instead of 37 – the whole world still weeps at the thought…