Scott, as a student of religion myself, one day I'd like to discuss theology with you over a nice scotch or wine. Thanks for this amazing site!

Nick, that reminds me of a delightful set of memories I have. When I went to Yale for grad school, I took an intensive classical Greek course my first year (I had already taken Latin) as my interest was New Testament studies and what is known as the Patristics era in church history. In order to develop my Greek reading ability, I approached one of my professors, a fantastic teacher named Rowan Greer. He said if I could get another student, he would do an independent study with us reading Greek. So each semester my third year, I found a student to do the course with Rowan and myself. Rowan is an Episcopal priest, very high church, and always wore a collar, smoked a pipe, and as luck would have it a fan of bourbon. So we would show up on Mondays and Wednesdays at 5PM in Rowan's office, he would produce three plastic cups, some ice and a bottle of George Dickel or J.W. Dant, and we would sip sour mash whiskey while reading aloud, then translating early Christian writings by Origen, Irenaeus, and other Greek language theologians. Best class I ever took!

"I’m not an A list writer, never was..." I'm thinking around here no one really cares Scott -- you sold from the outside. That's "A" in our eyes! This is a community of writers, you being included... period. You cracked the wall and your insight is priceless -- so why else would we participate? And hey... why does readership grow? I have a odd way of looking at things -- this is how I look at you... The John Madden of PAID screenwriting bloggers... not "how-to's." Your "lunch-pail" outlook is the draw -- well it is for me. The finger-picking comedian that worked his ass off -- found the right set of eyes and made it happen. Secured crumpled check in pocket and all! "Some really, really smart people frequent this site..." I'm not one of those guys... but I am smart enough to know when to "dance with who brung me." My writing has improved. My interaction with managers has improved. My knowledge of the industry has improved... So I'm sticking around. You pull from within -- give all of your readers a boost when needed -- you keep us writing... And for that, I thank you. Tonight, juju for you! And a virtual bottle of your favorite libation of course!

Thanks, Courtney. And with that, I think I shall go off and savor a glass of vino!

Thank you. "Read scripts. Watch movies. Write pages." That's what makes this site so amazing. I picture those words in a banner on the GITS heraldic crest under some sort of roaring typewriter.

"Read scripts. Watch movies. Write pages." I would add: Observe life. A lived life, so that it may inform our work even more than the movies we see. I want to know what the writer thinks about their story, not what s/he thinks Tarentino or Scorsese think about it. Don't be afraid. Show us.

Sounds like the On Writing quote we had yesterday: “How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.” – Henry David Thoreau

Vain might actually be shooting high. How about ignorant (in the nicest sense)? "Rewards" tend to be paid to those who give more of the same but only if you make it different enough to hypnotize me into believing I haven't seen this before. A handy skill that doesn't require much life to be lived.

Reading scripts has helped a lot. You know what would be cool? If we had a post where people could mention what genre they're writing, and other people could give suggestions for what are good scripts they could read to help them (and if they're available online!) The last few scripts I"ve looked for I couldn't find online. :( (THank you for Smoking and About a Boy). I know there's plenty but for some reason I feel like I'm running out of good ones! PS I loved that Henry David Thoreau quote.