Keep Talking Episode 23: Steve Harrigan - Honoring the Artist Within
Steve Harrigan is a screenwriter, a journalist, and a writer for Texas Monthly. His books include "The Gates of the Alamo" and "Big Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas." During our conversation, Steve talks about his work, the path that led him to become a full-time writer, and honoring artistic talents and impulses.
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(00:00) Intro
(01:02) Get to know Steve Harrigan
(02:02) Steve talks about his father
(03:13) Steve explains how little he knew about his father growing up, and how he feels about him now that he’s learned more
(05:42) Overcoming the shock post World War II
(06:32) Steve shares the similarities he’s discovered between his father and him
(08:21) Steve’s journey into becoming a writer
(12:56) How did Steve come to realize that he was a gifted writer?
(14:24) Steve shares how his mother played an instrumental role in helping him discover his writing abilities
(15:44) Steve talks about his popular article in the Rolling Stone
(17:48) How Steve was able to make writing his full-time profession
(19:22) Some writers who proved influential in Steve’s career
(22:49) What were the things Steve did to hone his craft at the beginning of his career?
(25:07) Why is your art an integral part of your identity?
(26:13) Why Steve calls his interest in writing a “discovery” rather than a calling
(28:40) How Steve was able to honor his writing skills and dedicate himself to it
(30:08) The period of Steve’s life between his first article and working as a staff for different magazines
(32:50) The big hacks or processes to writing that Steve discovered over the years
(37:07) What kept Steve moving in his journey as a writer despite not making huge financial gains out of it initially?
(39:14) How writing gives Steve a sense of self-identity
(41:00) What does a great working day look like to Steve?
(43:42) A day in Steve’s life
(46:37) How does Steve balance work and family?
(50:10) Steve talks about his family’s role in shaping his career
(51:56) Steve’s reasons behind his book The Gates of the Alamo
(57:40) Steve talks about his six-year journey writing the book The Gates of the Alamo
(01:00:14) What, according to Steve, is Texas's role in the development of America?(01:03:33) The fight about the Alamo and how Steve views its application to the rest of the country
(01:11:18) Steve’s advice to people with an artistic bent and worried about the financial side of life