Pressfield, I’m happy to write, has returned to the Afghan campaign, but this time in the form of a blog. I’d always hoped he would start a blog and finally he’s decided to jump in. His new blog, War and Reality in Afghanistan, is Pressfield’s attempt to bring “a full arsenal of history and context” to the fight. In five videos Pressfield elaborates his perspective on what we’re dealing with in Afghanistan and how to win. His main insight can be summed up in the blogs subtitle: “It’s the tribes, stupid.” Pressfield sees understanding and manipulating the tribal mentality as the core issue for American soldiers and strategists. His postings elaborate on the points made in his videos, along with discussing strategy, tactics and events in Afghanistan. It is an excellent blog.
In episode (video) five Pressfield sums up his position:
I should also note that Pressfield uses his new blog to discuss the art of writing. Each Wednesday he posts "Writing Wednesdays." He just started doing this last Wednesday, so if you're interested in the craft of writing you'd be wise to follow. This last Wednesday's was a good one. Pressfield started out writing for an advertiser. It was here that Pressfield learned some very important basic points about writing in any type of genre. Here's a sample from the post:
Here it is. Here’s the #1 lesson you learn working in advertising (and this has stuck with me, to my advantage, my whole working life):
Nobody wants to read your shit.
Let me repeat that. Nobody–not even your dog or your mother–has the slightest interest in your commercial for Rice Krispies or Delco batteries or Preparation H. Nor does anybody care about your one-act play, your Facebook page or your new sesame chicken joint at Canal and Tchopotoulis.
It isn’t that people are mean or cruel. They’re just busy.
Nobody wants to read your shit.
There’s a phenomenon in advertising called Client’s Disease. Every client is in love with his own product. The mistake he makes is believing that, because he loves it, everyone else will too.
They won’t. The market doesn’t know what you’re selling and doesn’t care. Your potential customers are so busy dealing with the rest of their lives, they haven’t got a spare second to give to your product/work of art/business, no matter how worthy or how much you love it.
What’s your answer to that?
1) Reduce your message to its simplest, clearest, easiest-to-understand form.
2) Make it fun. Or sexy or interesting or informative.
3) Apply that to all forms of writing or art or commerce.
When you understand that nobody wants to read your shit, your mind becomes powerfully concentrated.
Well, after pondering what Pressfield just said, I'm sobered to the fact that I've written my fair share of "shit" over the years. But then I've read plenty of it too....
