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Many regard writing as strictly a personal pursuit, and although Steven M. Ziegler acknowledges the endeavor’s individual elements, he also concentrates on its communal qualities. Seeing his experiences as synonymous with those of fellow South Philadelphians, the 28-year-old penned “Musings on the Mundane,” a 10-essay collection replete with ruminations on love and loss.
“I want to make people think,” the resident of the 2500 block of South Chadwick Street said of his summer-issued brainchild. “It’s easy to forget that we often go through serious stuff together. I wanted to explore how I’ve handled situations and how I’ve become more thankful for my blessings and more understanding of my setbacks.”
Craving a credible outlet for feelings common among his contemporaries, the Marconi inhabitant last year decided he could no longer delay in documenting an existence filled, according to bigcartel.com, with “divorce, anxiety, pop culture, homework hustling and lost loves.” Having honed a heartfelt affinity for community since childhood, he knew that along with revering successes and reconciling missteps, he would use the book to advocate for boundless curiosity.
“I hadn’t intensely thought about making this leap, but I knew I should be out there more,” Ziegler said of generating the product from a pool of more than 30 essays. “I have numerous questions about the lessons we acquire, so at the heart of this book is that love of learning, especially about who we are as friends, lovers and neighbors.”
In an era when many act as if reading registers as an affront to their attention spans, the author sees his pages as proof of what can occur when people slow down and ponder the direction of their plans. Having drawn praise for the honesty behind his admissions and encouragement to make more assertions, Ziegler intends to craft more creations that will simultaneously increase cogitation and appreciation, with his family to factor more fervently into his efforts.
“Writing is an art and probably my greatest tool for expression,” the wordsmith said. “I love being meticulous about it, and I’m respectful of the reader.”
In approaching his passion, which includes a penchant for screenplays, in that way, Ziegler, incredibly aware and a tad tired of the rehashing of certain literary and cinematic themes, contends he will never lack material to cement solidarity with admirers of honesty, no matter one’s geographic location.
“I’m well-versed in South Philly, but location doesn’t necessarily matter when you believe in yourself,” he said, echoing the seventh essay’s instruction to “Think about where your inspiration comes from, then deliver it to your audience with sincerity and conviction.” “I care about what I write because it helps me to grasp what I go through and how others combat their problems and celebrate their achievements.”
Owing to his Catholic upbringing, Ziegler has long believed in the beauty of bonding with his neighboring brethren. He explored enriching friendships first as an enrollee at St. Monica School, 17th and Ritner streets and 16th and Porter streets, where he also initiated his writing interest, before becoming a registrant at Roman Catholic High School. He found himself drawn to realistic fiction at the institution and fostered film and journalism enthusiasm at La Salle University, earning a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s in professional and business communication.
“I remember writing in grade school that I wanted to end up becoming a director,” Ziegler said of desiring screen scrutiny. “The whole idea of storytelling was so compelling, and that’s something that definitely remains an obsession.”
The writer includes his first story, “Godzilla Invades Center City,” which he penned at 10, in “Musings on the Mundane,” calling on the tale to note how endearing it has remained to him, to analyze the rewards of reading comprehension and to remind consumers they should draw lessons from what they read and the media they ingest. Those points have served Ziegler well through sojourns as the founder and editor of Pursuit Magazine and a scribe for Philadelphia RowHome Magazine.
“Getting out there and interviewing people helped me to feel even more confident in my ability to perceive their commitment to their vocations and really reinforced my ambition to be a writer,” Ziegler said. “In a sense, no matter what I was doing, I was their peer.”
He returned to Roman first as director of marketing then of development and communications, positions that helped to remind him of the importance of having a family whether its constituents are blood or not. Family matters, relationships reflections and the rapid approach to 30 made last year a pivotal period for Ziegler, prompting the birth of his book and the gestation of his cinematic plots.
“This is the starting point,” he said of his 75-page examination. “I’m looking to publish a full-length novel then expand on some of the other ideas that didn’t end up in this one. It’s going to be fun to watch it all unfold.”
Part of the Philadelphia Scriptwriters Network, Ziegler, who also co-hosted June’s Starving Artist Prevention Summer Series at L’Etage, 624 S. Sixth St., and has moved on from Roman to become the director of philanthropy at Mercy Neighborhood Ministries of Philadelphia, Inc., has sought further immersion into the creative community by conceiving the South Philly-set “Connected,” a look at the dying days of the Mob that he wants to place in book form before transforming it for the big screen. Though he noted breaking into the industry is his overall quest, with an emphasis on bringing back 1970s and ’80s films’ feel for urban analysis, “Musings on the Mundane” deserves distinction as a study in acknowledging each step along one’s journey, with Ziegler concluding by saying “Eliminate some distractions, and start thinking about what you would otherwise deem unimportant. … Do whatever it is you need to. Most importantly, love.”
“I want to have more of an independent voice,” Ziegler said. “That’s what I aim to have as an artist.”
Visit stevenmziegler.bigcartel.com.
Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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