Steven Pressfield Interview
I wrote about the amazing opportunity offered to myself and several other bloggers by Steven Pressfield. He contacted many of us through Twitter and offered us the opportunity to ask three questions and post the interview on our blog.
His book, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Many people asked questions about the topic of his book, resistance. My friend and mentor, Barbara Winter asked some very powerful and insightful questions on this same topic. If you are curious head on over to the Joyfully Jobless Blog.
But, I was more curious about the author himself.
I am honored by this wonderful opportunity and hope you enjoy reading this interview.
An Interview With Steven Pressfield:
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TDC: When did you realize you were a writer or that you wanted to write?
SP: I never thought about it when I was a kid. It never occurred to me. But it must have been lurking in there somewhere. My first job was as an office boy on the Revlon account at Grey Advertising in New York in the 60s. One of my duties was to schlep the ad copy around, bring it from the copywriters to the art directors. The Revlon business was a big-time account; the writers got paid a fortune. I used to read their stuff as I was carrying it down the hallway (“Pow! Biff! New Fall colors!”) and think, “Hell, I can write this shit.”
I had a boss who helped me put together a little portfolio and get a job as a copywriter. The boss I had on that job quit to write a novel, which became a big success. So I quit too. It only took me another thirty years and I finally got there.
TDC: What was the original catalyst for the idea for The War of Art?
SP: When you’re a working writer or painter or photographer (which I finally had become after years and years), you find that friends and acquaintances, after they get a couple of drinks in them, will confide that they too have dreams of writing, painting, etc. I wound up spending many nights, till two in the morning, talking to friends and trying to psych them up to follow their dreams—in other words, to overcome their Resistance. Those nights of talking helped formulate the concepts that finally came out in The War of Art. I got tired to telling it all verbally; I thought if I put it down on paper, I could just hand someone the book and say, “Here, read this.”
TDC: Has your own writing/creative process changed since The War of Art has been published? How?
SP: It hasn’t, Sandy. If anything, I would say I have an even greater respect for the pernicious power of Resistance—and I take its opposition even more seriously. But no, nothing has gotten easier, if that’s what you mean.
Thank you, Steven!!
You can read more about Steven Pressfield here:
StevenPressfield.com
Steven’s Blog
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This is so familiar…
“I wound up spending many nights, till two in the morning, talking to friends and trying to psych them up to follow their dreams—in other words, to overcome their Resistance.”
I used to do that too. Now I just give people your book
Thanks for writing it Steven. Thanks for the interview Sandy.
Mark
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” I got tired to telling it all verbally; I thought if I put it down on paper, I could just hand someone the book and say, “Here, read this.”
wow…good point. I think I need to quite making excuses and just DO IT!
Good interview Sandy!