The WAR of Art
Posted by Lake | Posted in Stuff I'm Reading, Writer's Journal | Posted on 04-02-2010
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In The War of Art, Steven Pressfield examines the difference between professional writers and amateur. He writes,
“The conventional interpretation is that the amateur pursues his calling out of love, while the pro does it for money. Not the way I see it. In my view, the amateur does not love the game enough. If he did, he would not pursue it as a sideline, distant from his “real” vocation. The professional loves it so much he dedicates his life to it.”
I’ve never seen a better analogy in print!
The War of Art is a book about writing and being a writer. It has no writing tips in it, not one. Yet it’s going on my shelf next to On Writing, Starting from Scratch and The First Five Pages. This is because there’s never been a more dead-on approach to what it takes to turning pro. Need a kick in the pants? Buy it – read it – LIVE IT! And write.
L. L.