Do the work

Steven Pressfi

eld

98 Start (Again) Before You’re Ready I was living in a little town in northern California when I fi

nally,

aft

er seventeen years of trying, fi

nished my fi

rst novel. I drove

over to my friend and mentor Paul Rink’s house and told him what I had done. “Good for you,” he said. “Now start the next one.”Th

at’s what I say now to you.

Take the rest of the day off

. Take your wife or husband out to

dinner. Pop some champagne. Give yourself a standing ovation.

Th

en get back to work. Begin the

next one tomorrow.

Stay stupid.

Trust the soup.

Start before you’re ready.