{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/5c267bc58b414df94d0a5fd7/6a21a8c614e465e5ce67d79b?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Steven Pressfield Was 52 (!) Before His First Novel Sold","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/5c267bc58b414df94d0a5fd7/1780589168927-6179d41f-2ffb-4235-a29b-90d113127831.jpeg?height=200","description":"<blockquote>\"A good day is when the flow starts to happen and you kind of lose yourself in it. But you cannot count on those days. So I'm a real believer in grinding — just get in there and take what the defense will give you.\" — Steven Pressfield</blockquote><p><br></p><p><br></p><h4>ORDER THE ARCADIAN HERE: https://amzn.to/4nYHV5e</h4><p><br></p><p>Steven Pressfield is your favorite writer's favorite writer.</p><p><br></p><p>But years before his best-selling hits like <em>Gates of Fire</em> and <em>The War of Art</em>, Steven Pressfield didn't sell his first novel until he was 52. After over two decades of trying!</p><p><br></p><p>In Part 2 of our conversation, he and Rain dig into what kept him going, and what keeps him going still.</p><p><br></p><p>From his daily gym ritual to his philosophy on the Muse, from building a catalog instead of betting everything on one book to his relationship with mentor Robert McKee, this episode is a masterclass in the long game of creative work.</p><p><br></p><p>If you're in the weeds, struggling to finish, or wondering whether it's too late, this is the conversation you need to hear.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><h3><br></h3><h3>In this episode, you will learn to:</h3><ul><li>Build a daily creative habit that beats Resistance even when inspiration doesn't show up</li><li>Think in catalogs, not single projects, to take pressure off any one piece of work</li><li>Use physical movement and morning routines as momentum for the creative work that follows</li><li>Trust the Muse over the market — your least commercial idea may be your most resonant one</li><li>Embrace the long game and stop measuring yourself against overnight success stories</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Special Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor for this episode, Vocatales → </strong><a href=\"https://www.vocatales.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>https://www.vocatales.com</strong></a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><h2><br></h2><h2>Links &amp; Resources</h2><p><strong>Follow Steven Pressfield:</strong></p><p><strong>Website</strong> → <a href=\"https://www.stevenpressfield.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.stevenpressfield.com</a></p><p><strong>Instagram</strong> → https://www.instagram.com/steven_pressfield/</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Book</strong> → <em>The Arcadian</em> by Steven Pressfield (out May 2025) https://amzn.to/4dA7yFJ</p><p><strong>Book</strong> → <em>A Man at Arms</em> by Steven Pressfield https://amzn.to/4uvYojv</p><p><strong>Book</strong> → <em>Gates of Fire</em> by Steven Pressfield https://amzn.to/4nVT5aT</p><p><strong>Book</strong> → <em>The Legend of Bagger Vance</em> by Steven Pressfield https://amzn.to/4tXWiYM</p><p><strong>Book</strong> → <em>The War of Art</em> by Steven Pressfield https://amzn.to/43wWTWn</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Person Referenced</strong> → Robert McKee</p><p><strong>Person Referenced </strong>→ Randy Wallace (screenwriter, Braveheart)</p><p><strong>Person Referenced </strong>→ Rick Rubin</p><p><strong>Person Referenced</strong> → Jack Carr (thriller writer)</p><p><strong>Nove/Film Referenced</strong> → <em>Project Hail Mary</em> (Andy Weir)</p><p><br></p><p><strong>For more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:</strong></p><p><strong>Website</strong> → <a href=\"https://rainbennett.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://rainbennett.com</a></p><p><strong>Podcast</strong> → <a href=\"https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.com</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Or follow along at:</strong></p><p><strong>TikTok</strong> → <a href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficer</a></p><p><strong>Twitter</strong>/<strong>X</strong> → <a href=\"https://twitter.com/rainbennett\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://twitter.com/rainbennett</a></p><p><strong>Instagram</strong> → <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.instagram.com/rainbennett</a></p><p><strong>Facebook</strong> → <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglab</a></p><p><strong>YouTube</strong> → <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett</a></p><p><br></p>","author_name":"Rain Bennett"}