Welcome to Litsy!

Ironically, I kept putting this book off bc I knew it would get my butt in gear! And it did, but the longer I let it sit, the less impressed I am with it. The little snippets were more inspirational calendar than book. Which will make it easier to refer back to. The big take-away is just do the work for the sake of the work.

“The professional has learned that success, like happiness, comes as a by-product of work. Someone once asked Somerset Maughham if he wrote on a schedule or only when struck by inspiration. "I write only when inspiration strikes," he replied. "Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o'clock sharp.”

Okay Campers today is a special day — we are going on a field trip for Arts and Crafts!

#LitsySummerCamp prompt inspired me to go out and finally check out a local ceramic painting place. I love painting and haven‘t had a chance to paint ceramics in years — so this seemed like a great opportunity. I love this store and (even better) you can buy the ceramics and paint there “to go” and do at “camp”!

Finished this for a writers‘ book club I am attending Thursday. Some of the thoughts in here were great and I vibed with it — others struck me as a little…preachy? Idk some parts rubbed me the wrong way. Overall some good take aways though.

Another great (audio)book recommendation from a Tim Ferriss interview... listened to the audio sample last night and starting today. (Nearly impossible for me to have only one book going at a time, as I imagine is true for many of us. 😉)

I found this book very interesting and helpful in my pursuit of starting to write myself. It has a very unique take on the writing process and what keeps us from it and what helps us along. It did help me break through my block and win my inner creative battle. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It‘s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don‘t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you‘ve got.” p. 165

“Angels are like muses. They know stuff we don‘t. They want to help us. They‘re on the other side of a page of glass, shouting to get our attention. But we can‘t hear them. We‘re too distracted by our own nonsense. Ah, but when we begin. When we make a start. When we conceive an enterprise and commit to it in the face of fears, something wonderful happens.”

“Angels are agents of evolution. The Kabbalah describes angels as bundles of light, meaning intelligence, consciousness. Kabbalists believe that above every blad of grass in an angel crying “Grow! Grow!” I‘ll go further I believe that above the entire human race is one super-angel, crying “Evolve! Evolve!”

If you want to be a writer but have been struggling to actually get any writing done, this book is meant for you ! It will shake you up and get you to grab a pen and paper and write (or open your laptop). I enjoyed it thoroughly. Also, it's a very short book - quick read.

The book started a bit "culty" but improved over time It focus on the concept of resistance which can be summarized as a barrier to achieve one's creative ambitions. I enjoyed it, it has interesting stories about the author's experience in the entertainment industry, his creative battles and some tips. Not that scientific, hence the "so-so" rating. But I recommend nonetheless.

Short and to the point book that inspires you to be creative.

This year I‘ve set myself a challenge to read 12 books on creativity, one a month, and to do what they suggest and journal/post about my progress. This was book one, it‘s short and concise, and a brilliant creative kick up the butt to get you working. The essays are brief and pack a punch. The advice he gives is brilliant and certainly helped me, though I do find myself battling resistance and fear constantly. This gives that a name. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“There‘s a secret that real writers know that wannabe writers don‘t, and the secret is this: It‘s not the writing part that‘s hard. What‘s hard is sitting down to write. What keeps us from sitting down is Resistance.”

New book review!
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Check out the full review here:
http://www.athinsliceofanxiety.com/2020/02/review-war-of-art-break-through-block...
#athinsliceofanxiety #thewarofart #stevenpressfield #waronprocrastination #resistance

Part two is great, part three a lot of mumbo-jumbo. Great nonetheless!

Trying to get writing again and figured pulling something from my towering stack of writing books would be helpful. The War of Art was an interesting study of what stops us from creating. Pressfield spends most of it talking about Resistance, what it is, what causes it, and how it affects artists. The book wanders into left field once in a while but over all has good advice for artists. #tbrpile

“If you find yourself asking yourself, ‘Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist?‘ chances are you are. The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident. The real one is scared to death. [And the] fear doesn't go away. The warrior and the artist live by the same code of necessity, which dictates that the battle must be fought anew every day.”

#StarTrekSummerJune | 2: #TheWayOfTheWarrior

📷: Made with Typorama

There were only few ideas and lines that I really liked. But overall it wasn‘t a hit. There are far better books out there on this topic, in my opinion. I didn‘t enjoy the writing/setup. #stevenpressfield #artist #artistsstruggle #creativebattle #notforme

#QuotsyMay19 #rejection @TK-421

Good motivation to kick you on the butt and get that project done

A good kick in the hindquarter, and a great book to come back to whenever your creativity and inspiration is lacking.

Great book for anyone who wants to feel inspired and needs help unlocking creative potential #

Fascinating! Wish I'd read this 20 years ago!

Still working myself through this one.
These words might be the best so far 😆.
#procrastination #artist #selfemployed #stevenpressfield #thewarofart #selfhelp #quote

“Work, work, work, work, work”
The struggle of artists... 😏.
So far only a few good inputs from Pressfield.
But he‘s definitely right with this one!
Who else is struggling? Any book that really helped you?
#stevenpressfield #artbook #procrastination #resistance #lifeofanartist

Looking for support through a bout of writer's block induced by perfectionism. A good read so far...

It‘s in the title. He uses motivation that doesn‘t work for me. It galvanized my wanting to take responsibility for my actions, recognize the agency I have in my choices, even if imaginary. Pressfield really bummed me out with that last page. Shame is not a constructive motivator. A powerful one, sure but not the beast I hope to feed. Writing excuses pod got a lot more traction with me with sic when you choose to watch tv you choose not to write.

Somehow I‘m keeping ahead of my word count goals, even with having to fix the drier after roommate‘s cat played wrestlemania with the exhaust. And emergency dinner cooking! Also restarted Art of War. It put me to sleep. :( Hopefully the later sections of the book make more sense. I‘m not one for war or battle analogies. Good friend recommended so I‘ll keep reading...for now. #CampNaNoWriMo

Made an attempt in April but lacked the gumption. I‘m going to do better this July! #NaNoWriMo

Rainy day reading. The first section of this book will stick with me always, I think.

Our job in this lifetime is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already are and become it.

We come into this world with a specific, personal destiny. We have a job to do, a calling to enact, a self to become.

This very moment, we can change our lives. There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the power to alter our destiny.

The danger is greatest when the finish line is in sight.

The warrior and the artist live by the same code of necessity, which dictates that the battle must be fought anew everyday.

The more important a call or action is to our soul‘s evolution, the more Resistance we will feel towards pursuing it.

A force that is felt.....

This short read is not just for aspiring writers. If you‘re stuck in a rut in any aspect of life this can help find some perspectives and get you to start doing the things you want to do in your life.

Even though I agree with Pressfield's main point, which is that the battle against laziness should be fought and won on a daily basis, this book is often absurd. How absurd? He believes in angels and muses.

He also complains about hack writers, which is ironic when one considers that he has written two other books about Resistance that appear to be exactly the same as this one. Pan.

Do I really believe that my work is crucial to the planet's survival? Of course not. But it's as important to me as catching that mouse is to the hawk circling outside my window. He's hungry. He needs a kill. So do I.