#139: Steve Almond – The Truth About Creative Failure, Overcoming Ego, and Writing Stories That Actually Matter
Apr 5, 2025
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Steve Almond, an award-winning author known for his bestsellers and the New York Times podcast Dear Sugars, candidly discusses creative failure and the importance of authentic storytelling. He shares insights on overcoming writer's block, navigating the emotional challenges of creativity, and prioritizing genuine connections with characters. Almond emphasizes the significance of vulnerability, self-compassion, and curiosity, encouraging writers to embrace their unique narratives and explore deep emotions in their work.
Steve Almond emphasizes overcoming personal obstacles like ego and fear is vital for writers to tell genuine stories that resonate.
His journey from journalism to creative writing highlights the importance of exploring emotional truths to connect deeply with readers.
Almond advocates that resilience in the face of failure is essential for writers, as setbacks ultimately enrich the creative process.
Deep dives
The Journey to Truth in Writing
The conversation emphasizes that writers often seek to tell the truth, but this process is hindered by personal obstacles such as ego and fear. Steve Almond highlights that acknowledgment of these barriers is essential to move past them, suggesting that humility and curiosity are critical components for writers. He asserts that writing should be about revelation rather than impressing the audience, urging writers to share genuine stories. This approach makes the writing process not just a task, but a journey toward self-discovery and authenticity.
From Journalism to Creative Writing
Almond's transition from journalism to creative writing illustrates a pivotal shift towards exploring deeper motivations behind human actions. Initially focused on the what, his journey led him to seek the why behind people’s behaviors, which enhanced his storytelling craft. His background in journalism equipped him with necessary skills but also made him recognize the limitations of writing solely for facts. Discovering the emotional truths in his stories enabled him to connect with readers on a profound level.
Embracing Failure in the Writing Process
Almond reflects on the struggles he faced while trying to establish himself as a novelist, acknowledging the long path to success and the many failures along the way. He emphasizes that these setbacks are common in the writing community and should not deter aspiring authors from pursuing their passion. By sharing personal anecdotes about his unsuccessful attempts at writing novels, he conveys the importance of resilience and the understanding that failure can be a valuable part of the creative process. Ultimately, he stresses that focusing on the work itself, rather than the external validation, leads to genuine satisfaction.
The Importance of Truth and Mercy in Storytelling
Almond's latest book, 'Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow,' serves as a guide for writers to deepen their understanding of storytelling. He encourages authors to confront uncomfortable truths about their subjects while maintaining a perspective of mercy and understanding for their characters. By navigating complex emotions and experiences within literature, writers can reveal deeper insights into the human condition. This philosophy shifts the narrative from simply sharing facts to fostering empathy through shared stories, allowing readers to feel seen and understood.
Creating Meaning Through Connection
The discussion reveals that writers possess an intrinsic desire to be understood and to convey the complexities of human experiences. Almond proposes that storytelling is a vehicle for individuals to share their inner lives, aimed at helping others process their struggles. He emphasizes the significance of relationships, both personal and artistic, in shaping one’s work and perspective. This interconnectedness drives not only the creative process but also elevates the role of writers in sparking communal conversations about deeper emotional themes.
Steve Almond, bestselling author on ‘failing’ for decades, finding flow, finding success in Hollywood, overcoming writer’s block and telling the stories only you can tell with truth and mercy. *
ABOUT STEVE ALMOND
Steve Almond is the award-winning author of twelve books of fiction and nonfiction, including the New York Times bestsellers Candyfreak and Against Football and Which Brings Me To You (turned into a Netflix show).
This episode is brought to you by our friends at Lulu. If you're interested in self-publishing, Lulu has free resources such as helpful tutorials, templates to help you layout a book, design for print, and they have a very watchable YouTube University channel. Our community anthology is in fact published using Lulu. Check them out at lulu.com.
