Hollywood veteran Sylvester Stallone on Tuesday provided a glimpse into his writing room and recalled how perseverance played a crucial role in helping him pen the scripts for Oscar-winning Rocky films despite him not being a naturally gifted writer.

“My favourite memorabilia is the one that caused me the most pain, which is writing,” the Rambo star said in an Instagram video shared on Tuesday.

Stallone then showed the scripts for movies he had written in the past. “This is the reason I’m here,” he said, showcasing two shelves full of movie scripts in book format. Stallone said that the reason he has made it in life is not because he lifted weights or exercised. It is because he kept pushing himself “into the unknown”.

Stallone admitted that he is not a “born writer” and that he is not a “good writer” either. He said that persistence pays off and eventually, his efforts led him to the creation of the Rocky films.

“Despite all the pain writing has caused me throughout my career, I am grateful for where it has brought me today. Without it, there would be no Rocky. Persistence pays off, keep punching,” Stallone wrote in the caption.

Fans flooded the comments section with their love for the Rocky films. “We all thank you for bringing Rocky into our lives. Keep punching,” one of them wrote. “Your Writing, directing and acting are all top tier,” another wrote.

Recently, Stallone also shared another favourite memorabilia with his fans. He provided a glimpse of his Rambo-themed typewriter — custom-made and gifted by nine-time Oscar-winning filmmaker Billy Wilder — which he used to write the script for Rambo movies.

Stallone is currently appearing on TMZ’s Arnold & Sly: Rivals, Friends, Icons, where he and his rival-turned-friend Arnold Schwarzenegger open up about their competitive spirit, box-office clashes and eventual reconciliation. Their rivalry emerged during the 1980s and 1990s as they vied for dominance in the action movie genre.