Are Your Ready to Begin a Career as a Professional Screenwriting?

When the studio calls, will you be ready? When pilot season starts, will you be ready? When the next Nicholls Fellowship deadline arrives, will you be ready? When the production company asks for the next great drama, will you be ready?

Everyone loves to focus on the results - glitz, glam, bling - but we're wrong in thinking that success is a result. Success is a cause. We must lead successful lifestyles, which will ultimately bear the fruits of our labor. And I'm not talking about buying a Mercedes Benz, tomorrow. The Mercedes is the fruit; the hard work is actually the success. A sound mind, sound body and sound spirit are all key elements for success.

When I was in high school, I was a hot-shot trumpet player in Florida. My high school marched 75 trumpets. My seat was number 3 and I was constantly at war with the 1st and 2nd chairs to become number 1.

Being only a teenager and not wise in the ways of the world, if I wasn't going to get the solo, I didn't take our performances seriously and quite frequently came unprepared with my lip blown out from careless practicing.

Much to my surprise, at a very, very important performance, the 1st chair and the 2nd chair did not show up. "Chris" the bandleader said, "It's on you. Take the solo," and I did. And you know what, I was horrible. It was absolutely dreadful. I wasn't ready. I was so busy throwing a pity party about not being number 1, it never occurred to me to just "be" number 1, and wait for the day when all would recognize.

As a teenager I wasn't ready, but the grown-up you can be. As a screenwriter, not only must you write without ceasing, you must also read books and screenplays, take classes, attend networking functions, stay physically fit to get more energy out of the day, maintain an excellent diet so not as to poison the workplace (your own body), and stay deeply rooted in the principles of higher truth to keep the mind and spirit balanced.

I cannot tell you when your big day will arrive, but I can guarantee that your day will arrive. The question is - will you be ready? You don't have control over when and where the opportunity will arise, but you do have control of your ability to be ready for it.

Be smart. Be ready.

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