Thursday, May 19, 2011

My Writing Space

This is where 80% of my writing takes place. I need to invent a steering wheel writing desk attachment but otherwise this is the quietest place for wool gathering and actual writing. The tough part is transcribing my scribbles onto my laptop on the weekends.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Steven Pressfield is Doing The Work

Steven Pressfield is a novelist and screenwriter. He writes historical fiction blended his way.  Please go explore the many facets of his fascinating website.  http://www.stevenpressfield.com/  A strong supporter of the writing life is where I first discovered him. "The War of Art" introduced me to what Pressfield calls 'Resistance' aka the enemy of all creative endeavours.  Steven Pressfield has written another motivational tool for the writers tool box.  

                          

This one is called "Do The Work".  He calls it more of an action guide than a motivational book.  It breaks down any creative work you want to accomplish into steps using some key ideas.  Stay Primitive is an example. I harken it to the Bull Durham movie when Kevin Costner told his rookie pitcher, "Don't think Meat. Just pitch." Pressfield says, "Don't think, write." Get your brain out of the way of your writing muscle.

'Resistance' is always lurking though. But Pressfield knows that if you slay this dragon once, you can do it again and again. It will never have power over you again.  He makes the pursuit of writing sound epic. Of being worthwhile.  "You have done only what mothers and gods do: You have created new life."

Order it. Get it for your e-reader. Then use it as fuel to start your next project.   You won't be sorry. You will become a target of 'resistance' but everything worthwhile is.