* I’m 55. I’ve sold scripts, signed with a partner at UTA, and joined the WGA. None of it gave me a sustainable career as a storyteller. Here’s what I’ve done so far: -Made 50 shorts before NYU Film School -Won Best Screenplay for my NYU senior thesis film -Wrote, directed, and produced 2 indie features -Signed with a partner at UTA -Did over a dozen writing assignments and script sales -Joined the Writers Guild of America -Got 1.1 MILLION YouTube views on a scene from one of my films -Taught 1,000+ screenwriting students at UCLA Extension -Coached 35+ writers through my 9-Step Screenwriting Process, including an Oscar nominee, a Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, a Nicholl Fellow, and a multiple Canadian Screen Award winner. (And I’m just as proud of the clients who won none of those fancy awards.) Here’s what I learned... You can’t depend on Hollywood. I estimate that 100K screenplays get written every year, and fewer than 3% of them make the writers a dime. But people NEED stories. And they don’t care if those stories come from Hollywood. That scene from my film with 1.1 million views? Audiences found it directly. No gatekeeper had to say yes. So here’s what’s next... I’m opening 7 spots for experienced screenwriters and filmmakers in IN-DEMAND SCREENWRITING. We develop your story 2x faster, build real audience demand, and get your material into the right hands, with or without agents - with or without Hollywood. You'll finish with a treatment, a concept trailer, and real market connections. The goal isn’t another great screenplay sitting on your laptop. It’s making a living telling stories you love. If this speaks to you, DM me and tell me why. If it sounds like a fit, I’ll walk you through how it works.

* hey screenwriter what's a feeling you helped elicit in another person today? you don't have to answer here just know that doing it socially, can feel similar to doing it through your screenplay #AnswerTheCall

* hey Writer, what if you could "write your life" the way you write your screenplays? not exactly in screenplay format, but in the WAY you respond to things. in other words -- what if your RESPONSE CHOICES are your road to freedom?

* Procrastination is protection from becoming too vulnerable too quickly Sound familiar to you? If so, that's okay, my friend. Just slow down... ...and allow yourself to shift the way you protect yourself

* hey Screenwriter boldly embrace your failures BE TERRIBLE learn be less terrible learn become only a little terrible learn some more and eventually become GREAT

* I’m 55. I’ve sold scripts, signed with a partner at UTA, and joined the WGA. None of it gave me a sustainable career as a storyteller. Here’s what I’ve done so far: -Made 50 shorts before NYU Film School -Won Best Screenplay for my NYU senior thesis film -Wrote, directed, and produced 2 indie features -Signed with a partner at UTA -Did over a dozen writing assignments and script sales -Joined the Writers Guild of America -Got 1.1 MILLION YouTube views on a scene from one of my films -Taught 1,000+ screenwriting students at UCLA Extension -Coached 35+ writers through my 9-Step Screenwriting Process, including an Oscar nominee, a Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, a Nicholl Fellow, and a multiple Canadian Screen Award winner. (And I’m just as proud of the clients who won none of those fancy awards.) Here’s what I learned... You can’t depend on Hollywood. I estimate that 100K screenplays get written every year, and fewer than 3% of them make the writers a dime. But people NEED stories. And they don’t care if those stories come from Hollywood. That scene from my film with 1.1 million views? Audiences found it directly. No gatekeeper had to say yes. So here’s what’s next... I’m opening 7 spots for experienced screenwriters and filmmakers in IN-DEMAND SCREENWRITING. We develop your story 2x faster, build real audience demand, and get your material into the right hands, with or without agents - with or without Hollywood. You'll finish with a treatment, a concept trailer, and real market connections. The goal isn’t another great screenplay sitting on your laptop. It’s making a living telling stories you love. If this speaks to you, DM me and tell me why. If it sounds like a fit, I’ll walk you through how it works.

* Hey screenwriter, Which excuse will you drop today? I’m too old | too young | too much of an outsider | too good for Hollywood | too etc... Instead - focus on creating an emotionally impactful story. Find kindred spirits to package & produce it. #AnswerTheCall

* Hey screenwriters, are you driving the day? Or is the day driving you? You can choose. #UnleashYourSuperpower

* Our job as pro storytellers is to show up into THE FERTILE UNKNOWN. In those darkest patches of woods, we confront the CREATURE, stare it down, and receive the ELIXIR. We bring that home, and delightfully detail the exact story we're born to tell...

* Hey Screenwriter Overwhelmed by a flood of choices to get to your next level? A book? Class? Writers group? Trial & error? A mentor? All of them? Focus on the optimal/minimal. Find YOUR special path for long-term results - spending the least amount of time & energy.

* Hey Writer - The only thing stopping us from that next level in our career is that thorn in our side. The thorn we put there ourselves. The thorn we have the power to remove, once we find the courage and clarity to love ourselves for jabbing it in there in the first place.

* hey Screenwriter, you have permission to be awesome today (and that permission doesn't come from me - it comes from within YOU) #AnswerTheCall

* Hey Screenwriter, How good is your development circle? Consider laymen to test basic clarity & plausibility. And to make a good script, GREAT, hire an industry heavy-hitter to make sure it's professional. I don't do notes, but happy to refer you to my own guy. DM me.

BIG SHOUT OUT to Justin Fox — who joined my Story Development Mastermind 1-Day Sprint with a brand new idea. By the end of that day, he walked out with a FULL TREATMENT. 30 days later, he typed FADE OUT on his professionally developed first draft. 😌 If you want to move that fast too, reach out — the next Mastermind starts soon. And drop a comment below: what tends to slow you down... Lack of time? Perfectionism? Structure issues? Procrastination? Character stuff? I’ve coached writers in 1,000+ sessions and written 45+ screenplays. I enjoy helping writers gently face whatever’s in the way, right here in the thread, so you can keep moving.

* Most pro writers think their script is ready for the marketplace after at least 12 drafts + many rounds of feedback Most amateurs think their script is ready after 2 drafts...  ...because it's the best they've written We don't know, what we don't know #AnswerTheCall

Hey valley or west valley writers, mark your calendar for Oct 27! Come join us! We're a nice group of peeps! @BrooksElms

* hey writer, Maybe... things "should" be the way they already are - and that we have all the power we need. 😌

* hey screenwriter what's your favorite screenwriting book ever? and why?

1) Gently admit you’re currently practicing skills in different ways than masters 2) Every day, learn 1 new part of a fundamental skill 3) Start TODAY (For real👉🏻 START NOW)

* Intermediate screenwriter question: How do you know when your script is finished? The draft is ready for feedback when you can't think of how to make it better. It's ready for industry outreach when your development circle stops giving you ideas you like better.