I’m probably a little late… to the party on this one, but I recently snagged a copy of Steven Pressfield’s THE WAR OF ART, and it echoes more than any other thing I’ve read to date the “philosophy” that transformed me from a guy who likes to write to a writer. His discussions on capital “R” Resistance, of turning pro, of demystifying the work and simply doing the work, all struck a deep and immediate chord with me – it’s all great advice for anyone who has always felt that their true heart lies somewhere else, but finds their artistic ambitions self-defeating. It’s one, long, battle-cry of a book, and I think it’s required reading for anyone who’s pursuing art as a vocation, or has ever dreamed of doing so.
My traveling starts this week, and kids descend next weekend. BAD LAND is already off for the first read-thru by my agent, and I have brand new folder and notebook ready to go for the next book – I don’t have a working title, but I have a full character list written up and some story beat notes. Although I promised myself a two week break, I actually started the first chapter this weekend – I was writing it in my head anyway, so there was no reason to let those words go. I did get to “see” a lot of coverage of BOOK EXPO AMERICA 2014 on Twitter, including the amazing photos of agency-mate Kate Brauning signing early copies of HOW WE FALL. I’ll be posting up my review in the next week or so.
It was great to see Kate standing next to stacks of her new new book, in front of big posters advertising HOW WE FALL. I’ll be fighting the battle to make sure that’s me next year!
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