Steven Pressfield — Conquering Creative Resistance, The Craft of Historical Fiction, and the Interplay of Games and the Muse (#57)
Jan 2, 2024
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Renowned historical fiction author Steven Pressfield discusses overcoming creative resistance, his surprising success with the game Ascension, and the connection between games and life. They also dive deep into his new book, The Daily Pressfield, a guide to conquering resistance and achieving dreams.
Pushing through self-doubt and self-sabotage is crucial to completing creative projects.
Having mentors and staying connected to creative communities is invaluable in the creative process.
Embracing positive ideas and running with them, despite resistance, can lead to great achievements.
Deep dives
The Battle Against Resistance
The podcast episode explores the concept of resistance and its role in creative work. The host and guest discuss the importance of pushing through self-doubt and self-sabotage to finish creative projects.
The Power of Mentors and Inspiration
The discussion highlights the value of mentors and sources of inspiration in the creative process. Mentors can be individuals, books, movies, or even dreams. The importance of learning from others and staying connected to creative communities is emphasized.
Life as a Battle and as Play
The podcast delves into the host's view of life as a battle, with creativity being a form of warfare against resistance. This perspective provides motivation and tenacity to finish creative projects. Additionally, life is seen as play, where the joy and soul-level fulfillment of creativity can be found.
The Journey from Start to Finish
The episode highlights the necessity of pushing through self doubt and fear to complete creative projects. The guest raises the importance of having a relentless mindset and maintaining the drive to finish no matter what challenges arise.
The Power of Positive Ideas
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of embracing positive ideas and not dismissing them. The speaker discusses how many of us often ignore or dismiss new ideas that come to us, preventing us from tapping into the potential they may hold. By embracing and running with these ideas, the speaker believes that great things can be created. They explain that resistance is the negative force that arises in response to our dreams and ideas, but it exists because there is something positive to strive for. The key is to develop self-discipline, self-validation, and work persistently towards realizing these dreams, even in the face of resistance.
The Connection Between Play, Games, and Life
The podcast explores the relationship between play, games, and life. The conversation highlights how humans learn and make sense of the world through stories and games. Games provide a safe space for us to experiment with different aspects of our personality and engage in activities that teach us essential life skills. The guest explains how games, like stories, resonate deeply with individuals because they allow us to experience different emotions, make choices, and witness the outcomes firsthand. The conversation also delves into the similarities between gameplay and storytelling, emphasizing that both forms of expression seek to create impactful experiences and evoke powerful emotions in the audience.
Steven Pressfield stands as a titan in the literary world, a master of historical fiction with profound insights into the creative process. He's renowned for works like "The Gates of Fire," which earned him accolades, including Spartan citizenship. His book, "The War of Art," introduces the concept of resistance, offering strategies for artists to overcome this ruthless creative demon. We discuss his days grappling with self-doubt and his triumphs as a legendary author. His stories are not just tales of the past, but lessons in perseverance and the relentless pursuit of creativity. Hosting Steven on the Think Like A Game Designer Podcast holds special significance for me. His books and stories about confronting creative resistance mirror the difficulties I’ve faced in each of my creative endeavors. It's an honor to share this episode with our listeners.
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