Steve is a Dad of two staggering little boys and, at this time of his life, that's what he must lead with. "They inspire me every day. They save me," he says. He's a proud Jersey guy. Hazlet was the hometown and Eatontown is where he and his family live now. He doesn’t really call or consider himself a poet or writer or artist, even. "It may be a weird mental thing," he says, "but it seems awkward to me." He is, however, a person that writes his feelings in poetic form as necessity. He requires a bit of drawing or painting to get himself through these crazy days. Connect with him on IG: @catchstevez. Check out his website and his Etsy shop for some hand-crafted work.
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GB: Steve, big thanks for taking time to chat. Can you share a little bit about yourself? Any background info that's NOT in the bio?
SZ: I lost count of how many times I started-stopped-restarted this. Sorry for the slight delay. The baby is never-ending sick. Right now he’s standing in his crib screaming, pissing all over his sleep schedule. And it’s my wife and I’s 5 year anniversary. The chance of giving some love or getting sexy tonight has been dashed to hell. So let’s dive in to some questions.
GB: When and how did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
SZ: I have been writing my sensitivity out, as a way to cope and make sense of all sorts of stuff in and around me, for quite some time now. It’s funny, but I don’t know if I really can consider myself a writer, though. The word itself carries a certain air with it and it’s hard for me to deem myself something like that. By definition, sure, I guess most could fall under the title, if they want it. But when I look at my favorite writers and poets (you included, as a very immediate example) or the pounds of others generally recognized as a one, I don’t see myself in that same way. Maybe it’s not for me to say… I didn’t really know how best to answer this one. It took me a minute to mull the question over and I think that’s because I value the craft. I know what it means to me. Writing has been my relief. But my primary goal for starting the insta-page, sort-of playing the game and striving to publish, is to hopefully benefit anyone choosing to read my chosen words. That, and of course, legacy. Since the birth of our first son, the thought of leaving something tangible, especially this integral side of me, for them to have or uncover one day is important.
GB: As a fellow New Jerseyian, do you find it inspiring your work at all? Got any stories that our local squad might eNJoy?
SZ: I think the areas we inhabit and the spaces we fill do a good job of shaping the art we create. It’s part of the lifeblood. During my high school years, the NJ music scene was huge for me. I have zero musical talent so was never in a real band. I was the friend to a bunch of those guys, the kid behind the scenes trying to help, the fan. At the time, it didn’t seem like anything, it was just what I did, but it was perfect. Those years were largely observational. Drawing and designing was still at my core, just napping. I haven’t begun writing much yet. I did a lot of internalizing and making things in my mind.
Then I went to Rutgers New Brunswick. Found myself in some trouble in my first year after lending a girl a course book and never getting it back. That event sparked a lot of changes in me. Drawing and painting came back into play. And the writing, although not great, began to overflow. Our proximity to NY presents itself in my stuff a lot, but effff that place.
Then I went to Rutgers New Brunswick. Found myself in some trouble in my first year after lending a girl a course book and never getting it back. That event sparked a lot of changes in me. Drawing and painting came back into play. And the writing, although not great, began to overflow. Our proximity to NY presents itself in my stuff a lot, but effff that place.
GB: What other types of art do you like to experiment with? Why?
SZ: I think cutout and collage art is cool and interesting, but don’t really have the patience to collect and store magazines, newspapers, random scraps, etc. After starting my insta-page, though, while wasting time worrying about what to post, I pushed myself to make quick(ish) cutout pieces. And for the first time attempted blackout poems. I think both are fun and stimulating ways to maybe say something your voice or style may not normally lend itself to.
My wife and I have a little side thing, Two Key Customs. We’re mostly catering to friends and family, but we offer custom, one-of-a-kind, homemade paper type goods and such. I really like making things for people. Give me an idea and I enjoy running with it. You can find us on Facebook by searching Two Key Customs.
My wife and I have a little side thing, Two Key Customs. We’re mostly catering to friends and family, but we offer custom, one-of-a-kind, homemade paper type goods and such. I really like making things for people. Give me an idea and I enjoy running with it. You can find us on Facebook by searching Two Key Customs.
GB: What's your creative process like? Do you have any obstacles you've had to overcome?
SZ: Above I mentioned how I’ve had to start and stop this a bunch. It’s a few days later. And it’s only fair to mention, especially while on this question, right now you are sitting on the toilet with me.
Anyway, we moved into our home a little over 3 years ago. I’ve been trying my best to handle the majority of the remodeling, finishing and fixing-up myself, to the point where my creative space and supplies are still not fully unpacked or setup.
And remember there’s two little ones in the mix.
My creative process for drawing/painting has changed drastically, but not necessarily in a bad way. I’ll forever be working to create the illusive masterpiece. But I have generally gone from possessing the time to sit and work on bigger or more elaborate pieces to almost negative time for myself and my creative efforts. So I’ve shifted and have been focusing on simpler ideas and pieces I can complete in like 30 minute bursts. It’s much more fun and rewarding. And these type of pieces are where the idea for the Etsy shop came from.
As for my writing, in order to keep focus, the poetry usually has to wait until the wife and kids are asleep.
Anyway, we moved into our home a little over 3 years ago. I’ve been trying my best to handle the majority of the remodeling, finishing and fixing-up myself, to the point where my creative space and supplies are still not fully unpacked or setup.
And remember there’s two little ones in the mix.
My creative process for drawing/painting has changed drastically, but not necessarily in a bad way. I’ll forever be working to create the illusive masterpiece. But I have generally gone from possessing the time to sit and work on bigger or more elaborate pieces to almost negative time for myself and my creative efforts. So I’ve shifted and have been focusing on simpler ideas and pieces I can complete in like 30 minute bursts. It’s much more fun and rewarding. And these type of pieces are where the idea for the Etsy shop came from.
As for my writing, in order to keep focus, the poetry usually has to wait until the wife and kids are asleep.
GB: Which authors/artists have had the most influence on your work?
SZ: This may come off as sacrilegious, but I’ve never been an avid reader. I appreciate a good book or collection, but sitting with a book has never been my go-to. With that said, Palahniuk and Bukowski are the most meaningful to me. Catcher in the Rye and Ender’s Game are incredibly important stories to me, as well.
Music has more of a direct effect on my work. The bands and artists that I love and their songs serve as the backbeat and main influence, more than any writer can. I could go on for pages off this prompt, but I won't... Early on, Kurt and Nirvana were eye opening and door busting. Brandon and Incubus carried the torch for awhile. Of course, once discovered, the collective powers of Fugazi grips the collection together. But, more than any others, then now and probably forever, Kevin Devine and Jonah Matranga have pierced me in such a way, in so many ways, that I’ll forever be in debt to their efforts.
Music has more of a direct effect on my work. The bands and artists that I love and their songs serve as the backbeat and main influence, more than any writer can. I could go on for pages off this prompt, but I won't... Early on, Kurt and Nirvana were eye opening and door busting. Brandon and Incubus carried the torch for awhile. Of course, once discovered, the collective powers of Fugazi grips the collection together. But, more than any others, then now and probably forever, Kevin Devine and Jonah Matranga have pierced me in such a way, in so many ways, that I’ll forever be in debt to their efforts.
GB: Who and what is on your MUST-READ list?
SZ: Oh, I said it above, Catcher in the Rye and Ender’s Game. Chuck Palahniuk’s Lullaby. Into the Wild. High Fidelity. These seem obvious, but are among my favorites. I’ve never been able to keep up with much of the new (and old) stuff I buy. A lot of what you have been posting has piqued my interest and is now on my long running list.
GB: What does "success" mean to you?
SZ: These days it’s simply waking in the morning, making breakfast and feeding the kids. Seeing the smile on their faces and thinking, at least for the time being, I’m doing something right. Being good with your decisions and comfortable in yourself.
GB: What's next for Steve-Z? Got any forthcoming projects we can keep an eye out for?
SZ: I haven’t read out loud much, ever. So in the new year, I think I need to step out of my comfort and try to get a few more readings under my belt.
Outside of a select handful of friends and strangers during college, I haven’t really shared much of my poetry, either. I am using my insta-page, thus far, to post works-in-progress, notes, mostly unedited stream of thought, and snippets of poems ranging in their existence. I’ve made an effort not to post any of what I consider the pile of poems I want to see published.
I am not published yet, though, and hopefully that will change in the very near future…
I have a tender chapbook ready and was hoping to have that out in the world by now, but it fell through. I still plan on sending it out to some presses because I think it’s worthy of life on its own. And most notable, I have a moderately hefty collection ready to go and will be making some decisions on that very soon, thanks in part to advice from you.
Thanks for reading. I appreciate your support. And thank you Glen, for this opportunity to share.
Outside of a select handful of friends and strangers during college, I haven’t really shared much of my poetry, either. I am using my insta-page, thus far, to post works-in-progress, notes, mostly unedited stream of thought, and snippets of poems ranging in their existence. I’ve made an effort not to post any of what I consider the pile of poems I want to see published.
I am not published yet, though, and hopefully that will change in the very near future…
I have a tender chapbook ready and was hoping to have that out in the world by now, but it fell through. I still plan on sending it out to some presses because I think it’s worthy of life on its own. And most notable, I have a moderately hefty collection ready to go and will be making some decisions on that very soon, thanks in part to advice from you.
Thanks for reading. I appreciate your support. And thank you Glen, for this opportunity to share.
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