{"id":11857,"date":"2026-09-30T05:02:57","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T03:02:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/2026\/09\/30\/steven-pressfields-top-13-writing-tips\/"},"modified":"2026-09-30T05:02:57","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T03:02:57","slug":"steven-pressfields-top-13-writing-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/2026\/09\/30\/steven-pressfields-top-13-writing-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Steven Pressfield\u2019s Top 13 Writing Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n

Steven Pressfield<\/u><\/a> is a writer known for both his film work and his fiction and nonfiction works in literature. He also gives great writing advice, regardless of the medium you\u2019re writing for. <\/p>\n

Let\u2019s go over his top 13 rules for writing, and how to implement them.<\/p>\n

1. \u2018Recognize Your Enemy: the Resistance\u2019<\/h2>\n

I think that this piece of advice really boils down to your eventual need to get over yourself. Everyone has something that they\u2019re passionate about. Everyone has a dream in their head that they think, \u201cIf I were just a little more talented\u201d, or \u201cif things had worked out just a little differently,\u201d then things may have worked. Get over yourself. The ones that succeed do, and they don\u2019t stop trying. Ever. <\/p>\n

2. \u2018Use Resistance as a Compass\u2019<\/h2>\n

If your inner resistance is giving you some imaginary reason why you can\u2019t tell a specific story, whether it’s due to talent, knowledge, experience, whatever, odds are, that\u2019s the story you should try and tackle. <\/p>\n

If it winds up working, then you\u2019ll likely be met with an artistic grand slam. And if it doesn\u2019t work, or it all crashes and burns, then odds are you\u2019ve learned several invaluable lessons that you can take with you to the next project. <\/p>\n

3. \u2018Avoid the Allure of Distraction\u2019<\/h2>\n

This one is pretty self-explanatory and can pretty much be used synonymously with the advice on resistance. Do your absolute best to avoid distractions while writing. Turn your phone off, leave it in the other room, invest in a device that locks you out of it, write at night when nobody needs you, anything helps. Find what works best for you, and implement it immediately. <\/p>\n

4. \u2018Choose to Be a Professional\u2019<\/h2>\n

Guys\u2026you have to invest in yourself. Treat your work and your craft with the respect and time it deserves. This doesn\u2019t mean going into debt for your up-and-coming career, but just make a few little changes. Find time to write every day. Invest in proper software. Don\u2019t make excuses for why you can\u2019t write. Just write. <\/p>\n

A friend of mine gave me a really powerful piece of advice once when I was down on my luck during job application season. I was up for a gig I really wanted, and wound up not getting it, and my friend replied with, \u201cWhy don\u2019t you just act like you got it, and do the thing anyway,\u201d as it was still an investment into my craft. I\u2019ll never forget that phrasing. Act like what you want to become, and the rest will follow. <\/p>\n

5. \u2018Leverage the Power of the Universe\u2019<\/h2>\n

\"Saoirse \u2018Lady Bird\u2019<\/small>Credit: A24<\/small><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve got to put in the energy if you want luck and success to reach you. Nobody is coming to save you in this industry, so if you just hunker down and put in the work day after day, sooner or later that effort is going to compound into something truly special. You may get lucky, but that luck can\u2019t come without a heaping helping of hard work first.<\/p>\n

6. \u2018Don\u2019t Criticize Anyone Who\u2019s in the Arena\u2019<\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s contextualize this one first. This does not mean don\u2019t offer thoughtful critiques of work you\u2019re engaging with. That\u2019s not helpful, and it keeps people from growing. But never, ever, ever, make fun of someone for trying something. Especially if it doesn\u2019t work. That\u2019s when many get embarrassed and quit. Don\u2019t ever be the reason someone gets embarrassed and quits. <\/p>\n

7. \u2018Prepare For Difficulty\u2019<\/h2>\n

Being passionate about something means that you\u2019re often going to have to put yourself through hell to get there. And most of the time, it\u2019s a mental, rather than physical challenge. <\/p>\n

Being so emotionally invested in your craft comes with some baggage. You shouldn\u2019t be woe is me about these struggles, as that makes you look out of touch. Everyone experiences them; you\u2019re not that special. But acknowledging that these struggles happen, and that they can be incredibly difficult, is just part of the process. Figure out how to deal with them in a way that works for you, and trudge on. <\/p>\n

8. \u2018Do it For You\u2026Not Them\u2019<\/h2>\n

There is a large pool of people that get involved with writing for the possibility of achieving an incredibly elite set of awards that are insurmountably difficult to obtain, and are the last type of goal that someone should devote their life trying to achieve. <\/p>\n

The best reason to be a writer is that you love writing. If you\u2019re burning to express yourself, and genuinely feel as if you have no other choice\u2026you\u2019re in it for the right reasons. Drown out the noise, and do it for you. <\/p>\n

9. \u2018Listen to Feedback With Your Ears\u2026Not Your Heart\u2019<\/h2>\n

Positive, helpful, actionable criticism from someone you trust and respect is invaluable to the writing process. If the right person is tough on your work, it\u2019s because they care and want to see you succeed. Every note is one step towards a phenomenal piece of work. Treasure actionable criticism, and don\u2019t take it to heart. <\/p>\n

10. \u2018Don\u2019t Wait Till You Overcome Fear\u2019<\/h2>\n

\"Jack \u2018The Shining\u2019<\/small>Credit: Warner Bros.<\/small><\/p>\n

This also goes hand in hand with the resistance points. Every single writer has been scared of something that they want to explore in their work. A large percentage of the time, that means you\u2019re on the right track. Use fear as your compass as much as the resistance.<\/p>\n

11. \u2018Be Patient\u2019<\/h2>\n

This process takes so much time. Many writers (including myself) get overexcited after they complete a draft, and rush to say it\u2019s done. Don\u2019t rush things. Treat every day like an investment and a stepping stone. One day that investment is likely to pay off. But be strategic about when you think the best time is to cash that in. <\/p>\n

12. \u2018Write About What Interests You\u2019<\/h2>\n

Horror films are dominating the zeitgeist right now. But, as a writer, I don\u2019t presently have a horror story in my head that I\u2019m burning to tell. So I\u2019m not going to rush one forward just to hop on the bandwagon. My heart wouldn\u2019t be in that piece. And people would be able to tell when they read or watched it. People want to watch films that the filmmakers were passionate about making. Find a story you love and tell it. The right audience will follow. <\/p>\n

13. \u2018Give the Contribution Only You Can Give\u2019<\/h2>\n

Last, but certainly not least. There is a tendency, especially with new writers, to get caught up in trying to be as original as possible when trying to break in. There\u2019s a fear that pulling from old stories, or their creative inspirations, too heavily will make them look like they don\u2019t have a clear and original sense of voice. <\/p>\n

In this case, I implore you to remember that every single story that could ever possibly be told has already been told. But never from your own perspective and analysis. So, what if you\u2019re writing a high school rom-com, and there are already a trillion of those. I\u2019ve never seen it from your perspective, and I want to. Write from your soul, and people will notice. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Author: Eric Hardman
\nThis article comes from No Film School<\/i> and can be read on the original site.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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