The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle

As the self-help genre has become more popular and diversified, books about artists’ psychology, experience, and technique have also become more common. Pressfield’s first self-help book The War of Art is typical of its genre due to its focus on fear, procrastination, and lack of confidence. It features a frank tone, direct engagement with the reader, and an inclusive approach to all kinds of artists and other professionals.

Matt Bell’s 2022 book Refuse to Be Done also acknowledges the role that Resistance plays in hindering the creative process, though he does not use that term. Bell advises the reader, “I know this can sound a little magical: start writing and the draft will come” (9). However, Bell’s work only addresses writers, both professional and amateur, who want to refine their understanding of the writing process. Bell, a novelist, focuses on the importance of editing and revising drafts of fiction novels. Similarly, in their 2023 book Art and Fear authors David Bayles and Ted Orland discuss the challenges that artists face in finding the courage and motivation to complete their projects. Their book functions on the premise that all artists do their work in uncertainty, so they must redefine what it means to be successful.