How I Write Steven Pressfield: The Brutal Truth About Creative Success | How I Write Classic Episode
In this engaging conversation, Steven Pressfield, a prolific author known for his insights into writing and the creative process, shares his journey through 27 years of Resistance. He discusses the importance of discipline in writing, emphasizing the need to embrace rough drafts and the editing process. Pressfield offers valuable storytelling advice, including the significance of crafting compelling heroes and villains. He also reflects on personal struggles and transformative challenges, along with his new book, "The Daily Pressfield," aimed at supporting creative souls.
01:26:17
Quit When Typos Multiply
- Stop your writing day once you start making typos because that's a signal of exhaustion.
- Preserve quality by quitting at the point of diminishing returns.
The Dishes That Marked His Turn
- Pressfield describes hitting bottom in New York, pulling out his old typewriter, and finding calm after writing two hours of garbage.
- That night washing dishes and whistling marked a turning point that sustained him for decades.
Blitzkrieg First Drafts
- In a first draft, prioritize forward movement and cover the canvas rather than polishing.
- When you hit obstacles, go around them and keep advancing like a blitzkrieg.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
The Art of Embracing Imperfection in Writing
01:51 • 20min
Embracing Clarity in Creativity
22:13 • 22min
Heroes, Villains, and Inner Conflicts
44:06 • 5min
Crafting Suspense and Embracing Struggle
49:28 • 20min
Navigating the Art of Saying No in Creative Pursuits
01:09:31 • 2min
Exploring Scene Structure and Writing Style in Narratives
01:11:39 • 3min
The Art of Language and Storytelling
01:14:50 • 8min
Overcoming Self-Doubt in the Creative Process
01:22:58 • 3min
#2074
• Mentioned in 13 episodes
The Daily Stoic
366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Ryan Holiday
Stephen Hanselman
'The Daily Stoic' offers daily insights and exercises drawn from Stoic philosophy, designed to cultivate wisdom, resilience, and mindfulness.
Each entry provides a quote from a Stoic philosopher, followed by Ryan Holiday's reflections and actionable advice.
It encourages readers to embrace challenges, practice self-control, and find meaning in everyday life.
The book is structured as a year-long guide, with each day offering a new opportunity for reflection and growth.
Its practical approach makes Stoicism accessible and relevant for modern readers seeking to improve their mental and emotional well-being.
#1987
• Mentioned in 14 episodes
Nobody Wants to Read Your Shit
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Steven Pressfield
#8118
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The forgotten soldier
Guy SAJER
The Forgotten Soldier is a memoir by Guy Sajer, detailing his experiences as a teenager in the German army during World War II. The book provides a vivid and brutal portrayal of life on the Eastern Front, focusing on the psychological journey of a soldier amidst the horrors of war.
It is known for its lyrical storytelling and honest depiction of the deprivations and terror faced by soldiers.
#24
• Mentioned in 233 episodes
The War of Art
Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Steven Pressfield
In 'The War of Art', Steven Pressfield identifies the internal force of 'Resistance' that hinders creative endeavors.
The book is divided into three sections: 'Resistance: Defining the Enemy', 'Combating Resistance: Turning Pro', and a final section that discusses the role of the muses and the battle between the Self and the Ego. Pressfield provides practical advice on recognizing and overcoming resistance, emphasizing the importance of professionalism, discipline, and continuous work in achieving creative success.
#5848
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Tides of War
Steven Pressfield
Tides of War is a historical epic that delves into the complexities of the Peloponnesian War, focusing on the intertwined lives of Alcibiades, a brilliant but flawed leader, and Polemides, an Athenian soldier and assassin.
The novel explores the political intrigues, naval battles, and personal struggles that defined this pivotal conflict in ancient Greece.
Drawing from historical sources like Thucydides and Plato, Pressfield crafts a vivid and engaging narrative.
#29
• Mentioned in 220 episodes
The 48 laws of power
Robert Greene
In 'The 48 Laws of Power', Robert Greene and Joost Elffers synthesize three thousand years of the history of power into 48 laws.
These laws are derived from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz, as well as the lives of influential figures such as Henry Kissinger and P.T.
Barnum.
The book provides tactics, concepts, and lessons on how to achieve and maintain power, emphasizing prudence, confidence, and self-preservation.
Each law is illustrated with historical examples and is designed to help readers understand and navigate the dynamics of power in various aspects of life, including work, social hierarchies, and politics.
#2853
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
The Daily Pressfield
null
Steven Pressfield
#37
• Mentioned in 195 episodes
Zero to One
Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
Peter Thiel
In 'Zero to One,' Peter Thiel argues that true innovation comes from creating something entirely new, going from 'zero to one,' rather than incrementally improving existing ideas.
He emphasizes the importance of vertical progress through technology and the benefits of monopoly in driving innovation.
Thiel also discusses the need for long-term planning, the importance of finding the right co-founders, and the power law in startup success.
The book challenges conventional wisdom and encourages readers to think critically and aim big to build the future.
#1039
• Mentioned in 23 episodes
The sun also rises
Ernest Hemingway
Originally published in 1926, 'The Sun Also Rises' is Ernest Hemingway’s first novel and a classic example of his spare but powerful writing style.
The novel follows a group of young American and British expatriates as they wander through Europe in the mid-1920s, capturing the moods, feelings, and attitudes of the cynical and disillusioned Lost Generation.
The story centers around Jake Barnes, a World War I veteran and journalist, and Lady Brett Ashley, as they journey from the wild nightlife of 1920s Paris to the brutal bullfighting rings of Spain.
The novel portrays an age of moral bankruptcy, spiritual dissolution, unrealized love, and vanishing illusions, reflecting the existential disillusionment characteristic of the Lost Generation.
#414
• Mentioned in 45 episodes
Gates of fire
Steven Pressfield
Gates of Fire tells the story of the Battle of Thermopylae through the eyes of Xeones, a wounded Greek soldier who recounts his life and the events leading up to the battle.
The novel explores Spartan culture, the rigorous training regimen known as the *agoge*, and the heroic stand of the Spartans against the overwhelming forces of the Persian Empire.
The story is framed as a series of interviews between Xeones and members of the Persian court, detailing the battle and its aftermath, as well as the personal and philosophical aspects of Spartan warfare and culture.
#89
• Mentioned in 124 episodes
The great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Published in 1925, 'The Great Gatsby' is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life during the Jazz Age. The novel is narrated by Nick Carraway, who moves to Long Island and becomes entangled in the lives of his wealthy and mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and Gatsby's obsession to win back his first love, Daisy Buchanan.
The story delves into themes of honesty, the temptations of wealth, and the struggle to escape the past, ultimately reflecting on the disintegration of the American Dream.
#1363
• Mentioned in 19 episodes
The Legend of Bagger Vance
Steven Pressfield
In the Depression year of 1931, on the golf links at Krewe Island off Savannah's windswept shore, golf legends Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen meet for a mesmerizing thirty-six-hole showdown.
They are joined by a local unsung opponent, the troubled war hero Rannulph Junah, who is guided by his caddie and mentor, the mysterious and charismatic Bagger Vance.
Vance holds the secret of the Authentic Swing and his mysterious powers guide the play, leaving a lasting imprint on the lives he touches.
The story is a sports fable that reveals that, in life as well as golf, the real battle is not with outside opponents but with oneself.
Every so often, I’ll re-publish one of my favorite How I Write episodes. This classic episode is with Steven Pressfield, the author of more than 25 books who speaks as beautifully about the creative process as he writes. He waded through 27 years of Resistance so you don’t have to. Come learn his best practices for doing your best work.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:40 Your career in writing
00:07:00 Writing rough drafts
00:11:10 Copywriting
00:13:20 Hemingway
00:14:20 The Legend of Bagger Vance
00:18:40 Fiction vs Non-fiction
00:19:15 Storytelling advice
00:29:20 Editing your work
00:40:55 Discipline in writing
00:43:45 Villains in writing
01:02:45 How Steven started writing
01:05:15 Robert Greene
01:08:50 Tim Ferriss
01:12:00 60 scenes method
01:13:20 Writing styles
01:20:20 Make your heroes suffer
01:23:55 Steven Pressfield's new book "The Daily Pressfield"
Hey! I’m David Perell and I’m a writer, teacher, and podcaster. I believe writing online is one of the biggest opportunities in the world today. For the first time in human history, everybody can freely share their ideas with a global audience. I seek to help as many people publish their writing online as possible.
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