If I
can give authors really good advice, it would be to watch Rocky.
In all my years of watching thousands of movies, I have never found one quite like it. The entire franchise of Sylvester Stallone films continues today, with installment No. 8, Creed II, and it is very, very good. So how does a movie retain a 42-year-old hold on the public?
In all my years of watching thousands of movies, I have never found one quite like it. The entire franchise of Sylvester Stallone films continues today, with installment No. 8, Creed II, and it is very, very good. So how does a movie retain a 42-year-old hold on the public?
It
starts with the theme song, filled with powerful trumpets and energy. Gonna
Fly Now. Listen to it, right
now. Play it. Again.
Again. Again. I could never tire of it.
The song has a powerful impact every single time I listen to it. I feel moved, inspired, empowered. I feel youthful and determined. I’m ready to tear apart whatever or whomever stands in my way of pursuing my dreams, living my convictions, and sharing my truth with others.
The song has a powerful impact every single time I listen to it. I feel moved, inspired, empowered. I feel youthful and determined. I’m ready to tear apart whatever or whomever stands in my way of pursuing my dreams, living my convictions, and sharing my truth with others.
You
may not like sports or care for boxing, a barbaric activity that would be
outlawed anywhere but in the ring. No
matter. The Rocky movies are all about the battles we fight – in life, inside
ourselves, deep in our spirits. It
doesn’t matter the size of your opponent, the level of risk, or a challenge of achieving your
goals, or the doubters around us. What
matters is the heart and soul inside of you, the forceful spirit that allows
you to be your best and to use brains, skills, strength, and determination to
win.
Writers
are underdogs, and like Rocky, must
summon up the courage to live their convictions. Rocky never
gets old for those like me who fell in love with what he stands for. This year is my 40-year anniversary
of seeing the classic film. When it came out in theaters, my parents didn’t
take me. I was nine. But by 1978 I saw it on TV and fell in love
with it. Everyone needs the spirit of Rocky in their life, but especially
writers. We need the motivation,
support, and modeled leadership that Rocky
brings us.
Writers
experience, observe, research, imagine, think, and hypothesize about life. They live in a world that doesn’t exist as
much as they live in the real one. They see the world for what it is, but ask
if we can do better, be better, and find ways to right the shortcomings of
humanity. They submerge their emotional worth, their identity, and their
intellectual talent into their books.
It’s only proper that a fictional character help champion them in their
pursuit of writing greatness.
I
try to watch It’s a Wonderful Life
every year, reminding myself that even when times get tough, we must choose to
live. I watch The Wizard of Oz to remember that we don’t get our skills or
talents from others. No Oz is needed to get what you really
want. And I watch Rocky because I remind myself to dig deeper and to fight for what I
want.
There
are many great movies, just as there are so many great books, plays, and songs
but let there be no doubt that Rocky
stands above all. Watch it. Get pumped. Go for your dreams!
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Brian Feinblum’s insightful views, provocative opinions,
and interesting ideas expressed in this terrific blog are his alone and not
that of his employer or anyone else. You can – and should -- follow him on
Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels
much more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by
BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2018. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in
Westchester. His writings are often featured in The Writer and
IBPA’s Independent. This was named one of the best book marketing
blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the
top book marketing blogs. Also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best
resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America.
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