“Now! What are you prepared to do?!”
– Sean Connery as Jim Malone in The Untouchables

Sean Connery

What, you were expecting an Untouchables picture?

I read an article a while back about a high-level mixed martial artist, with a severely damaged toe. He had to make a tough choice — take a year off from training, or have his toe amputated.

He had his toe amputated.

Now *that’s* dedication. It got me thinking about parallels in screenwriting. For most professional screenwriters, success comes only after years of toil and sacrifice.

I know so many people who are dabblers (I used to be one myself). They peck away at a single script, only when writing conditions are perfect, while devoting most of their time to some other endeavor. They would really love to be a working screenwriter, yet for whatever reason, never truly dedicate themselves to mastering the craft.

The Secret to Success

There’s really only one way to achieve your life’s dreams, and it’s a two-step process.

1. Ask yourself if you’re willing to pay the price necessary to succeed.

2. Pay the price.

Do you yearn to be a successful screenwriter, but have something holding you back? Cut off that toe!

Photo: Sean Connery in Zardoz — a pre-Highlander movie about immortals. Looks awesome.


Want me to read your screenplay? Please take a look at my script services.