We may receive an affiliate commission from anything you buy from this article.Sylvester Stallone became one of the most successful actors of his generation, after playing an underdog boxer in the 1976 classic "Rocky." It proved a stunning commercial and artistic success, winning three Academy Awards, and thrust his career into the stratosphere.
In his new memoir, "The Steps" (to be published Sept.29 by William Morrow), the actor writes of his early struggles, before creating the character of Rocky Balboa.
Read the excerpt below, in which he recounts the genesis of writing his screenplay for "Rocky"; and don't miss Tracy Smith's interview with Sylvester Stallone on "CBS Sunday Morning" September 27! $22 at Amazon Prefer to listen? Audible has a 30-day free trial available right now.Try Audible for free It was winter and California was cooling off.
Sasha was with child.I was broke.
I was in desperate need of an original idea to write about, and I was still blank.Thomas Paine said it perfectly in 1776: "These are the times that try men's souls." I knew that I needed to find something special, but also something that most people could relate to.I just had no idea where to start.
Even if I did, I wasn't sure the opportunity with Chartoff and Winkler was still there, or that I deserved it.I had my chance with them, and I blew it by giving in like a coward and selling the rights to Paradise Alley for a hundred bucks.I was still angry with myself for not holding my ground, but maybe that anger was getting in my way.
It certainly wasn't helping me fill my notebooks with quality writing.You can only stare at a blank page for so long.
One night, deep into a fruitless writing session, I got up from the table around three in the morning and wandered up and down the deserted streets of our neighborhood, thinking and talking to myself.Am I the only person who feels that life is hard, cold...