Comments on: Elements of Success http://www.stevenpressfield.com/2009/11/writing-wednesdays-15-elements-of-success/ Website of author and historian, Steven Pressfield. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:55:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Brent Robison http://www.stevenpressfield.com/2009/11/writing-wednesdays-15-elements-of-success/comment-page-1/#comment-2319 Brent Robison Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:11:36 +0000 http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/?p=1325#comment-2319 Perhaps THE most important message for a writer or any artist in this clamorous fame-based culture is your #6. And The War of Art is one of my biggest inspirations. Thanks! Perhaps THE most important message for a writer or any artist in this clamorous fame-based culture is your #6.

And The War of Art is one of my biggest inspirations. Thanks!

]]> By: Kelly http://www.stevenpressfield.com/2009/11/writing-wednesdays-15-elements-of-success/comment-page-1/#comment-2318 Kelly Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:47:25 +0000 http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/?p=1325#comment-2318 Sir, I had a question in regards to the paper by Maj Gant and your interview. Please email me at my listed email address. VR Kelly Jones Sir,
I had a question in regards to the paper by Maj Gant and your interview. Please email me at my listed email address.

VR
Kelly Jones

]]> By: Steven Pressfield http://www.stevenpressfield.com/2009/11/writing-wednesdays-15-elements-of-success/comment-page-1/#comment-2317 Steven Pressfield Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:48:19 +0000 http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/?p=1325#comment-2317 Thanks, Ken. I will check both of them out. My gratitude to you for being so thoughtful and for taking the time to write. All my best, Steve P Thanks, Ken. I will check both of them out. My gratitude to you for being so thoughtful and for taking the time to write.

All my best,
Steve P

]]> By: Ken http://www.stevenpressfield.com/2009/11/writing-wednesdays-15-elements-of-success/comment-page-1/#comment-2316 Ken Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:54:25 +0000 http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/?p=1325#comment-2316 Mr. Pressfield Your Gates of Fire and War of Art are two of my favorite books. Congratulations on all of your amazing success, you are an incredible writer and deserve it all. Anyhow, I was reading Karl Popper's "Open Society and its enemies" and in chapter 10 titled The Open Society Popper goes into a detailed analysis of a tribal society versus an "open society." He uses sparta and athens as examples, respectively. I'm not sure how familiar you are with this work, but it is a very intelligent look at both societies, and compares the two and points out differences. If you haven't seen it, it may come in handy when trying to explain to others the differences between the two-you already do a fine job of that in your videos, but while reading it I thought of your blog. The analysis really begins at chapter 10, part I. Also, I came across this website, and the potential to turn this 'Neanderthal Predation Theory' into what i will hestitatingly call "science fiction" (perhaps a more fitting term would be evolutionary biology narrative) is immense, in my opinion, especially for a writer of your caliber and background. The first 3 chapters are available on his website for free. http://www.themandus.org/ Apologies if these are both wild goose chases, but I keep rereading them and feel the gnawing urge to tell you about them. Mr. Pressfield
Your Gates of Fire and War of Art are two of my favorite books. Congratulations on all of your amazing success, you are an incredible writer and deserve it all. Anyhow, I was reading Karl Popper’s “Open Society and its enemies” and in chapter 10 titled The Open Society Popper goes into a detailed analysis of a tribal society versus an “open society.” He uses sparta and athens as examples, respectively. I’m not sure how familiar you are with this work, but it is a very intelligent look at both societies, and compares the two and points out differences. If you haven’t seen it, it may come in handy when trying to explain to others the differences between the two-you already do a fine job of that in your videos, but while reading it I thought of your blog. The analysis really begins at chapter 10, part I.
Also, I came across this website, and the potential to turn this ‘Neanderthal Predation Theory’ into what i will hestitatingly call “science fiction” (perhaps a more fitting term would be evolutionary biology narrative) is immense, in my opinion, especially for a writer of your caliber and background. The first 3 chapters are available on his website for free. http://www.themandus.org/
Apologies if these are both wild goose chases, but I keep rereading them and feel the gnawing urge to tell you about them.

]]> By: Steven Pressfield http://www.stevenpressfield.com/2009/11/writing-wednesdays-15-elements-of-success/comment-page-1/#comment-2315 Steven Pressfield Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:53:30 +0000 http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/?p=1325#comment-2315 I like that though, Melissa. War must be one. Not sure what it means, but it's interesting. I like that though, Melissa. War must be one. Not sure what it means, but it’s interesting.

]]> By: Melissa Marsh http://www.stevenpressfield.com/2009/11/writing-wednesdays-15-elements-of-success/comment-page-1/#comment-2314 Melissa Marsh Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:23:44 +0000 http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/?p=1325#comment-2314 Won. War must be WON. Goodness! Won. War must be WON.

Goodness!

]]> By: Melissa Marsh http://www.stevenpressfield.com/2009/11/writing-wednesdays-15-elements-of-success/comment-page-1/#comment-2313 Melissa Marsh Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:22:45 +0000 http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/?p=1325#comment-2313 Hi Steven - I just finished reading THE WAR OF ART and thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots and lots of food for thought. I particularly identify with your idea of success, that of it coming from the inside out. I recently went through a painful withdrawal from my writing after a particularly hard rejection, and I had to sit back and ask myself, "WHY am I doing this? For my own glory?" I realized at that point that my reasons for writing had succumbed to the lure of the publishing contract, the book on the shelf, the money (I never want the fame). Once I got it straight in my head that I needed to do it for God's glory, not mine, then the writing came back. The hard part, I believe, is keeping that mentality. It is a constant war, as you state. It's one that gets wearisome. Yet it is a war that must be one. Melissa Hi Steven -

I just finished reading THE WAR OF ART and thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots and lots of food for thought. I particularly identify with your idea of success, that of it coming from the inside out. I recently went through a painful withdrawal from my writing after a particularly hard rejection, and I had to sit back and ask myself, “WHY am I doing this? For my own glory?” I realized at that point that my reasons for writing had succumbed to the lure of the publishing contract, the book on the shelf, the money (I never want the fame). Once I got it straight in my head that I needed to do it for God’s glory, not mine, then the writing came back.

The hard part, I believe, is keeping that mentality. It is a constant war, as you state. It’s one that gets wearisome. Yet it is a war that must be one.

Melissa

]]> By: Louise http://www.stevenpressfield.com/2009/11/writing-wednesdays-15-elements-of-success/comment-page-1/#comment-2312 Louise Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:20:48 +0000 http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/?p=1325#comment-2312 Nice post. I especially like your invocation of Robert McKee's "Story." I just finished reading it after finding it in the references of Dan Pink's "A Whole New Mind," even though I don't aspire to screenwriting. Sounds like your book might be right up my alley. Glad to find you here. (Found your ref. on Twitter btw. I'm @ThoughtsHappen.) Nice post. I especially like your invocation of Robert McKee’s “Story.” I just finished reading it after finding it in the references of Dan Pink’s “A Whole New Mind,” even though I don’t aspire to screenwriting. Sounds like your book might be right up my alley. Glad to find you here. (Found your ref. on Twitter btw. I’m @ThoughtsHappen.)

]]> By: David J. West http://www.stevenpressfield.com/2009/11/writing-wednesdays-15-elements-of-success/comment-page-1/#comment-2311 David J. West Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:01:18 +0000 http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/?p=1325#comment-2311 This was great. I especially liked your summation of real success being the process not product. I have thought this myself for sometime but you put it into words better than I. Can't keep my light cloaked gotta let it shine forth. Thanks David J. West This was great.

I especially liked your summation of real success being the process not product. I have thought this myself for sometime but you put it into words better than I.
Can’t keep my light cloaked gotta let it shine forth.

Thanks
David J. West

]]> By: Jen Grisanti http://www.stevenpressfield.com/2009/11/writing-wednesdays-15-elements-of-success/comment-page-1/#comment-2310 Jen Grisanti Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:06:31 +0000 http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/?p=1325#comment-2310 Steven, I love the wisdom that you impart on artists, writers and entrepreneurs. Everyone can learn from you. You have a beautiful voice and a spirited opinion that will help so many! Thank you for all of your TREMENDOUS support. We speak the same language. I am very happy that our paths have crossed. Warmly Jen Steven,

I love the wisdom that you impart on artists, writers and entrepreneurs. Everyone can learn from you. You have a beautiful voice and a spirited opinion that will help so many!

Thank you for all of your TREMENDOUS support. We speak the same language. I am very happy that our paths have crossed.

Warmly
Jen

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