I know I don't want to work in "this" Hollywood.

I think the idea most of us have, is to make that first sale, hopefully gathering interest in our talent while doing so. Then, there's interest in what we might write next. Most of us don't want to write something that we're asked to. Unless, well, that broken first pitch to the writer has nothing going for it save for the immediate rush of ideas that the writer has upon hearing it... then, it's yours anyway.
I tend to think that writers in general want to do it on their own terms. Whether that means getting a 5 picture contract with a studio, hired for an adaptation, or just returning to the typewriter at our secluded home by ourselves to flesh out our next personal passion. Our own terms. We're a lot of things, but we like our independence, I think most writers, if not all are creatures of this nature.
Lastly, if your intention is only this one project, then it doesn't matter. However, if you want more and after that sale, you have offers or inquiries, then maybe sticking around a few years to get the ball rolling a few rotations further isn't a bad idea. The L.A. area isn't for everyone. Hang out a few years, get some more projects under your belt and then move. Leave. At that point, it's likely they'll work around that decision.
And you never know, you might even come around to wanting to stay. Even if it's just for the weather.

Ah, the naivete of youth.

Not for nothing, but talk to us a few hard knocks down the road, if you choose to continue after the first rejection or two.

You'll still be there with same cavalier (in the best sense of the word) attitude only if: 1) you are wealthy and don't need to persevere through day jobs, kids, life... to still keep your head in your screenplays and 2) You were never serious about working in this business. And that's okay - you won't be getting in anyone's way who truly wants it.

But seriously, you're adorable.

My favorite column re moving to LA is from Terry Rossio, and his basic answer is, "there are different phases to a writer's career, and a different answer for each phase."

I'm right with you Gregaria.

In my 20's, I wanted it more than anything else, more than my next meal, more than a person would want a glass of water in the Gobi.

In my 30's, while writing drafts, I up and got married and had a bunch of kids over a period of 10 years. Pretty sure there are no examples of a working screenwriter who also happens to be a stay-at-home dad of 5 younglings. But who knows? Things change... the last of my little ones will shuffle off to school someday. Until that time, I enjoy honing the craft...something you can do anywhere and at any period of your life.

My 40's begin in two weeks. I continue to write scripts but have also introduced myself to the joys of so many other forms of writing... lots of prose, some essay work, quite a bit of short fiction.

I sold a few scripts along the way, all indie stuff, some produced, some half produced, some will languish forever. I'm fine with that. (Gosh by now Sojourner must think I'm such an insufferable loser...)

I think you have to know exactly WHY you are doing this and what you hope your efforts yield. For me it was a lifelong adoration of the cinema. It was never about financial gain. ("What a tool!" guffaws Sojourner.)

So continue down your path, enjoy the process, and know well that there are so many other ways the written word can be used for self-expression. I applaud your integrity. I believe you have already experienced the dividends of the writing life, a growth and expansion of one's very soul and that, my friend, is the only validation we truly require.

I don't know, Sojourner, I've had my share of hard knocks, still struggle with them, and I received plenty of rejection letters. Learned a great deal from them. Can't say I'd pack everything up for LA if I suddenly became a hot property but I'd certainly continue writing because that's who I am.

My ideal is similar to Gregaria and I'm pushing 50. I'd love to stay where I am or stick with the plan to retire in Hawaii and only have to show up in LA to do the on-site rewrite (if necessary). I'd just utilize all of the great technology we have to market my work, again, ideally. Perhaps it would be different if I had an eye toward directing but there's no interest there.

Nah, you took me wrong, folks. I dropped hints ("cavalier, in the best sense of the word" - "never serious...and that's okay").

No one should ever stop one from living the life they want to live. You go - seriously!

Just ask yourself this: Where do you want to be in a year?

Then ask yourself: Are you. Doing what it takes. Today. And every day. To get there?

And I'm sure you are. Namaste.

Frankly, I used to be more excited about it than I am right now - and it's because, just over the past two years, I find movies have gotten exponentially worse. I see it, my boyfriend sees it, my friends see it. I've accepted this because we really pay attention to art and pop culture, as most of us write or create in some form or fashion. But this next one really caught my attention. Just last night, my brother, who's no intellectual or culture watcher but just a Joe Average oil field employee who likes to see a heck of a lot of movies - the kind of person Hollywood courts on a regular basis with its action films, broad comedies, and thrillers - asked me, "Why are movies so BAD now?" So, it's not just us folks who attention to movies because write screenplays. Hollywood is churning out worse and worse films by following formulas, obsessing over metrics, and giving business the sole control in what used to be a more balanced partnership between the two.

My big hope is this - to be good enough to get a little bit above it. My goal is to become a contract writer for studio films and I will work my tail off to get to a place where I can pick decent assignments. If that's not going to happen - if I can't get that good or the industry's respect for writers continues to slide - I'll do something else for a living. Having to do "creative" work when you know the product is bad is too soul sapping. Since the pendulum is always in motion, I also hope Hollywood swings back to making better films. It's happened before - the New Hollywood of the 70s after the doldrums of the 60s. With any luck, things will bottom out soon so the industry can start to climb up again.

This is a difficult question for anyone that aspires to write movies in the current Hollywood climate of the "30 R words- rehash, remake, re-imagining, re-boot" etc. I fight with myself everyday, wondering if I'm wasting my time trying to break in. But my characters won't leave me alone - they want their stories told. So I persevere. And a movie like "Inception" gives me another 'goose' to keep going. Maybe a 'one-off' will be the most I can accomplish. So be it. I'm really not interested in writing Superman - the Nursing Home years.

Yay! I'm not the only one. Thanks, everyone, for your advice and input.

fracturedsynapse: Hm, that's something to think about.

Sojourner: Thanks for the encouragement. :)

Atlanta: The link didn't work. Something seems to be going on with their site.

Jeff: Congrats on your family. 5 kids is an accomplishment in itself. I have to say, I have already "experienced the dividends of the writing life," as you put it. Thanks for the encouragement.

dvandyke: Actually, forget staying home. Hawaii sounds great!

Annika: I agree. Hope you get that job and start writing movies we actually want to see!

Catznurse: "Superman, the Nursing Home Years." Lol!