I consider Steven Pressfield to be my writing coach.

I read his book Do The Work before I start a new project.

I’ve just finished reading it again as I revisit my play Minced.

Pressfield describes the creative process accurately.

And encourages you to find your way through the Resistance that will challenge you.

The inevitable roadblocks.

The doubt.

The fear.

The things that will go wrong.

He doesn’t sugar coat it.

Creating something.

Making a change in your life.

Losing weight.

Paying off debts.

Any endeavour that will move you to a better place than you are now.

Will summon Resistance to try to sway you from your course.

Resistance always comes.

Beating it once doesn’t stop it from coming.

It never stops.

But beating it once means that you can beat it again.

As Pressfield says:

Stay Stupid. Don’t over think it. Just do it.

Trust the Soup. You know more than you think. Trust that the solutions will come. Trust that the path will be clearer as you walk it.

Start before you’re ready. Keep research to a minimum. Do enough to get started. Keep going until you realize what actual things need research. Only after you’ve begun.