19min chapter

#642: Steven Pressfield on Going from Truck Driver to Bestselling Novelist, Overcoming Self-Sabotage, Building Momentum, Dancing with the Muse, Turning Pro, and Letting Your Underground River Flow

The Tim Ferriss Show

notes

CHAPTER

Navigating the Creative Wilderness

This chapter explores the speaker's journey in creative writing, reflecting on their evolution and the supportive role of mentorship. It emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with childhood passions to foster joy and creativity amidst adult responsibilities. Through personal anecdotes and metaphorical parallels to the Odyssey, the chapter highlights the transformative power of challenges in self-discovery and artistic growth.

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Transcript

Episode notes

Brought to you by MasterClass online video lessons taught by 180+ of the world’s best, Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement, and Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating.

Steven Pressfield (@SPressfield) was 52 years old before his first novel was published. Since then, he has written the million-sellers Gates of Fire and The War of Art, as well as The Legend of Bagger Vance, A Man at Arms, and many others. His newest book, the memoir Govt Cheese, is about those years before that first publication. It is coming out on December 30th, and you can pre-order signed copies here.

Please enjoy!

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This episode is also brought to you by MasterClass! With MasterClass, you can learn from the world’s best minds—anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace. With more than 180 classes from a range of world-class instructors, that thing you’ve always wanted to do is closer than you think.

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[05:51] Ambition in a halfway house.

[09:30] Evanescent dreams.

[10:37] Helpful self-delusions.

[13:28] What’s in a name?

[19:18] Trimming fiction’s fat beyond the first draft.

[22:06] The Paul Rink method of maintaining Blitzkrieg momentum.

[25:48] Other pearls of Paul Rink perspicacity.

[28:08] A transition from aspiring fiction writer to prolific author.

[32:05] A hint from Hemingway.

[33:15] Positive self-delusion.

[35:26] Writing fiction isn’t self-indulgence. It’s an obligation.

[40:44] How does writing fiction fit into my life? Is it a top priority?