So the point is to take the work seriously but you don’t take yourself too seriously. There’s a riff about this in Stephen Pressfield’s War of Art, where he talks about how amateurs are too precious with their work: “The professional has learned, however, that too much love can be a bad thing. Too much love can make him choke. The seeming detachment of the professional, the cold-blooded character to his demeanor, is a compensating device to keep him from loving the game so much that he freezes in action.”

visakan veerasamy • Are You Serious?

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Making yourself a corporation (or just thinking of yourself in that way) reinforces the idea of professionalism because it separates the artist-doing-the-work from the will-and- consciousness-running-the-show. No matter how much abuse is heaped on the head of the former, the latter takes it in stride and keeps on trucking. Conversely with success:

Steven Pressfield • The War of Art

Paradoxically, the amateur's self-inflation prevents him from acting. He takes himself and the consequences of his actions so seriously that he paralyzes himself. The amateur fears, above all else, becoming (and being seen and judged as) himself.

Steven Pressfield • Turning Pro

If You Have Writer's Block, Maybe You Should Stop Lying

Sasha Chapin sashachapin.substack.com

Why have I stressed professionalism so heavily in the preceding chapters? Because the most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.

Steven Pressfield • The War of Art

The secret to purposeful play is to not get overly attached to the results you’re out to produce. While it may sound paradoxical, it’s possible to be committed to your writing career while at the same time not taking it too seriously. When you stay committed and unattached, you’ll probably find you’re much more effective at producing results. Now t

W. Bradford Swift • From Spark to Flame: Fanning Your Passion & Ideas into Moneymaking Magazine Articles that Make a Difference (Monetizing Your Purpose & Passion Series Book 1)

We do not overidentify with our jobs. We may take pride in our work, we may stay late and come in on weekends, but we recognize that we are not our job descriptions. The amateur, on the other hand, overidentifies with his avocation, his artistic aspiration. He defines himself by it. He is a musician, a painter, a playwright. Resistance loves this.

Steven Pressfield • The War of Art

If a creator is so afraid of judgment that they’re unable to move forward, it might be that the desire to share the work isn’t as strong as the desire to protect themselves. Perhaps art isn’t their role. Their temperament might serve a different pursuit. This path is not for everyone. Adversity is part of the process.

Rick Rubin • The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered

Austin Kleon • 4 highlights

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