So I jumped at the chance to put some questions to Steve about creativity and the opportunities and challenges confronting creative people in the 21st century. Two years ago when we were planning the launch of Lateral Action, Brian, Tony and I agreed that The War of Art – with its emphasis on tackling difficult, complex, creative challenges – was a touchstone for what we wanted to achieve with our site. Fans of The War of Art should check out the Writing Wednesdays and Creative Process sections of the site and if you’ve ever wondered whether Seth Godin was exaggerating the whole ‘tribes’ thing, check out Steve’s video blog “It’s the Tribes, Stupid”. And he continues to dispense practical wisdom for creatives of all shades on his website. His book on the creative process, The War of Art, has achieved similar status among writers, artists and many others struggling to make the most of their creative talent, in the face of overwhelming odds. They have also achieved cult status among US troops currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Steve’s military novels are so highly regarded that they are on the curriculum at the US Military Academy at West Point and the US Marine Corps Basic School. In his latest book, Killing Rommel, he turns his attention to World War II, narrating the story of an audacious mission against Hitler’s Afrika Korps. Steve is known for the combination of meticulous research and gripping narrative in his historical novels, several of which focus on ancient military campaigns such as the Battle of Thermopylae ( Gates of Fire) and the exploits of Alexander the Great ( The Virtues of War and The Afghan Campaign).

We are delighted to welcome best-selling novelist and Hollywood screenwriter Steven Pressfield to Lateral Action.

Steven pressfield the art of war