Over the years, I've interviewed many A-list screenwriters and heard the stories of how they broke in.  It always sounds easy when five years of work are described in a few sentences.  And for most of us, it feels like the A-listers did something magical that we can't do.

One day, I interviewed A-list writer Allan Loeb (Wall Street, 21, The Switch). He listened intently as the writers in our group introduced themselves and then said…

• "I was exactly where you are at one point.  So you can do it, too."

I thought back over my other interviews…

Some writers gave up everything to write while others kept their day jobs until they were forced (by large checks) to make writing their full time job.  Some were single while others had families.  Some felt like giving up early on, while others felt only the burning fires inside them.  Some wrote a few scripts before their first sales, while others wrote more than two dozen scripts before they had success in the marketplace.

But none of them were born as A-list screenwriters.

Just as interesting, they came from all over — Texas, Oregon, Wisconsin, New York, Florida, Canada, the U.K., Australia, and many other places.

What they all had in common was that they kept writing, learning, growing, and testing the waters until they succeeded.  So if you ever find yourself feeling confused, worried, frustrated, or doubting your own abilities, just realize that you are on the path, and it is all part of the journey.

Allan Loeb was right.  He and other top screenwriters were exactly where we are…and that means that we can get to where they are.
 

ACTION:  I invite you to imagine this:  Whatever your situation, imagine an A-list screenwriter was there at some point in his or her development.  Imagine it, feel it, take it on … and let that belief influence your actions each day as you move toward a successful screenwriting career.   QUESTION:  Knowing that an A-list screenwriter was where you are at some point in his or her career, what does that mean is possible for you?

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