A Bit of Optimism

Determination with Steven Pressfield

26 snips
Jun 6, 2023
In this engaging conversation, Steven Pressfield, author of acclaimed works like The Legend of Bagger Vance and The War of Art, dives into the elusive nature of creative success. He introduces the idea of a muse as a crucial element alongside hard work, luck, and talent. Steven shares his winding path to authorship, emphasizing the balance between personal struggle and serendipity. He also explores rituals that invoke creativity and advocates for authenticity, illustrating how openness can create luck and unexpected opportunities.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Inspired by Success

  • Steven Pressfield's writing journey began after seeing his boss's novel become a hit.
  • Inspired, he quit advertising, believing writing a novel would be easy, only to find it much harder.
ANECDOTE

27-Year Odyssey

  • After his first novel attempt failed, Pressfield worked various jobs for 27 years.
  • These included truck driving, oil field work, teaching, and screenwriting before finally publishing "The Legend of Bagger Vance."
ADVICE

Persistence and Progress

  • Keep writing even if unpublished, focusing on constant improvement.
  • Evaluate your work, seek feedback, and trust that consistent effort leads to progress.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app