Resistance Strikes at the Beginning
Revise that: Resistance strikes BEFORE we begin.
How many of us have collected “notes” and amassed “research” for that life-altering project we’ve always dreamt of tackling?
Resistance loves it when we “rehearse” and “prepare.” It knows the more we plot out our magnum opus, the less chance that we’ll actually work on it.
I have a mantra:
Start before you’re ready.
The idea is to outfox our fear-brain by stealing a march on it.
Don’t research. Don’t plan. Begin!
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.
NOBODY WANTS TO READ YOUR SH*T
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?"
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I am an author who fortunately doesn’t suffer from this. I usually think of writing a new book and a plot develops. I . I then start writing. This is how I managed to write my thirteen published books . I also write poetry in the same way.
YOU ARE INSPIRING ~ THANK YOU ‼️
Precisely. And thanks for that mantra.!
I know people who bought golf clubs, shoes, and attire and rarely hit the links. Or who amass a garage filled with wood working tools and never plug them in. I also know people who grab five clubs, toss them in the trunk, and head out to the course, regularly. Or the man with one knife who carved over a hundred walking sticks. Have or do?
Or the people planning to go to the gym, start a course or write a book. I get annoyed at how many guys tell me that they were going to “join the army or the paratroopers” and almost signed up for martial arts.
Amen
‘Tokus auf Tisch!’
Ben, I had to lookup the saying. I like it! Adding it to my arsenal.
Dear Steven: The War of Art changed my life. Everything you espouse on these topics and the axioms of the universe, whether in war, business, or everyday life, has shaped and changed me and my life profoundly. I wish I could download your wisdom in it’s entirety into my brain and the brains of everyone I love. I would love to interview you on my podcast, The Most Fascinating Podcast in the World/ Pat DiCerbo.. because you’re one of the most fascinating people I’ve come across. Thank you!!
“Start before you are ready!” – this sounds like a universal law of accomplishment. I’m going to adapt this as my mantra for moving forward on projects. Thanks for that!
I am not a writer, but have lived among them most of my adult life. This advise is spot on!
My husband when he was writing, every morning, he would start off writing a “letter to the editor” to the local newspaper. He considered it an exercise in preparing his mind., but a motivation of his fighting spirit. If he needed any extra books or articles for a project, that was during process of writing — of course he need stuff beforehand — but never waisted time for being fully perpared. He always was reading and researching when he wasn’t writing.
How did you know
‘‘a GI named jimmy my Hero My dad “
I have letters from German pow camp
Letters Kia missing pow etc
Gov debriefing typed out pages
Jimmy married Nov 17 1945
Months after liberation from German pow camp!!
Filled in 1945 with Scott’s from DUNKIRK
11 years later his young wife my mother Patty
Dies on may 3 1957. Leaving jimmy Vinny 9 frankie 7 Nicky 4 years old !!
Two life challenges survived battle of the bulge Arden tree explosions
Legs ripped with hot shreds of shell bursts
Now jimmy has three boys and himself
What was his biggest challenge!!
Pre war “,a Bronx tale “ war time “ saving private ryan “ next “ my three sons”
Over 20 yrs screwing around and not TAKING Action
Yup! Guilty as charged! Great post!
S’good. Ray Bradbury was quoted a couple different ways (I paraphrase):
“Jump, and build your wings on the way down.”
I know the Alphabet and one good card trick.
My mantra is “I got’s to get paid .”
👏 Já fiz isso e deu certo. Certíssimo! Não posso esquecer. Obrigado amigo Steve.
Act.
Take action.
Do the thing.
Action always precedes motivation and inspiration. Act. Don’t think. Don’t consider. Do the thing. Screw it up and learn from it and do it again and rinse and repeat.
Act.
Take action.
Do the thing.
Do it everyday.
Screw it up enough times to get it right.
What I find fascinating is how we are all wired alike…I had no idea Resistance was so predictable….so with predictability and self disscovery your spot-on mental armor is crushing my Resistance which has lived a very comfrotable life in my head until today…It’s cleaning day today….thanks…
have to agree – i work best when not thinking about doing anything much, just start and keep going til finished, or me really tired. i’m 80 now, and loved your article on resistance and the follow ups. i had no idea it was already worked out and now i watch as it takes hold, or not. watching and feeling how flow happens, how resistance comes. love just doing without plans. so good.
thank you for all your work on this topic, its saved me again and again, from a deep dive into supersonic procrastination.
WOW!!
One thing that seems to help me is to remind myself that I am expanding – into my project, into my work, into greater connection, into wisdom, into health, etc., – when I remind myself of this it instantly reframes the task, the resistance, the drama, the excuses. I am expanding. (I’m reminded of the Steely Dan lyric, “this is the day of the expanding man…”
Yes, that boldness has power.
Thank you for this post this week. I have been guilty of “paralysis by analysis” in the past. But I just jumped into writing my award-winning bestseller “Enemy At The Helm.” No outline. No storyboard. Just write. Edit later. Rinse and repeat.
Thank you so much dear Steve.
Precisely! Thank You, Steven!