Since my last post had more views in a five day period than anything I’ve posted I thought (like a good Hollywood producer) that I would follow it up with a sequel. But this time instead of limiting myself to more kinda, sorta random quotes on writing and life from mostly screenwriters I’ll open up the floor for others.
“I never expected any sort of success with Mockingbird.”
Harper Lee
To Kill A Mockingbird
“The best work that anybody ever writes is the work that is on the verge of embarrassing him, always.”
Arthur Miller
“The awful thing about the first sentence of any book is that as soon as you’ve written it you realize this piece of work is not going to be the great thing that you envision. It can’t be.”
Tom Wolfe
“A writer’s courage can easily fail him.”
E.B. White
“I have so many demons and voices telling me what a fraud I am and how my meager talent will be uncovered.”
Scott Frank
Oscar nominated screenwriter
Out of Sight, Minority Report,
Get Shorty
“No one can give you the secret of screenwriting because no such secret exists. No one knows exactly how to write a superior screenplay. It is a matter of instinct and experience- or talent, living, learning and practice.”
Edward Dmytryk
Director, The Caine Mutiny
“If you were to just focus on a day job and work really hard – you’ll probably make about as much (if not more) than you will writing scripts. With less hassle and more peace of mind.”
William Martell
Screenwriter,
West Coast Editor
of Scr(i)pt Magazine
“The ancient commission of the writer has not changed. He is charged with exposing our many grievous faults and failures, with dredging up to the light our dark and dangerous dreams for the purpose of improvement.”
John Steinbeck
Speech at Nobel Prize Banquet
“It’s much easier to do the impossible than the ordinary.”
Ken Kragen
Entertainment Lawyer/
Manager & Organizer of
We Are the World
& Hands Across America
“The secret of life is enjoying the passing of time.”
James Taylor
“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you was?
Satchel Paige
“The problem with the rat race is even if you win you’re still a rat.”
Lilly Tomlin
“The only way to rise above the pack is not be a part of it.”
Don Hewitt
Creator/Executive
producer 60 Minutes
“If we couldn’t laugh we’d all go insane.”
Jimmy Buffett
“The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.”
Mark Twain
“The idea that your career is your life is a great misconception. Your career is just one of the tools to help you have the most fulfilling and successful life possible.”
Ken Kragen
Life is a Contact Sport
“Who have you ever heard, as the lay on their deathbed, say, ‘Gee, I should have spent more time on my business’?”
Lee Iaciocca
My goal when I began this Diablo Cody-inspired blog on screenwriting was to bring some structure to my many notes in hopes of preparing this for a book. I set a mark in January of 50,000 words by the first day of summer (June 20). It seemed like an ambitious goal, but my last post on May 31 actually surpassed that goal. I’ll continue to post on screenwriting up until June 20 because I have a few more areas to flesh out. And then I’ll reevaluate the direction I’ll head.
After all, I don’t want to waste my life just reading and writing blogs. And I’ve started two new screenplays since I began this blog so there is other work to be done. Thanks to everyone for visiting over the months because without a growing list of views on my WordPress stat chart I’m not sure I would have been motivated to complete my 50,000 word goal.
And a special thanks to Mystery Man on Film for his screenwriting blog that has pointed many people my way. His blog is kind of a greatest hits of screenwriting sites. Way too much information there. But a better place for a writer to spend time than watching TV, playing video games, or looking for real estate deals in Hawaii you plan on buying once your script sells.
copyright @2008 Scott W. Smith
Screenwriting from Iowa 