Other than taking care of my kids, all my time has been focused on screenwriting (I'm about 10 credits away from a screenwriting B.A.) -- so dropping out for 15 months won't be anything compared to the few years I haven't seen my (non-film) friends or gone out for a drink or seen a first-run movie in the theater (so, yes, praise be to Netflix and Amazon). To paraphrase what Jeremiah Friedman said above: It's the one who works hardest that succeeds. (My cynicism prevents me from completely buying into that, but I do let the axiom guide me as much as possible.)

What Jeremiah said about hard work reminds me of a quote that was on a shirt from my high school soccer team and it's always stuck with me... "Hard work beats talent the day talent doesn't work hard."

uhhh... my new mantra. stealing.

Marc, that's awesome. Because it's NOT just about hard work, we also MUST have talent. That mantra works both pistons in that engine. Do you have any further anecdotes about the quote from your soccer days? I'd love to use this as the basis of a blog post and would be happy to include any observations, reflections, stories you might have connected with it.

Honestly, Scott, I wish I did. The only somewhat story I have connected to it is when I wore it while I studied abroad in Italy. I was on a bike tour of the Tuscan hills outside of Florence and one of the tour leaders loved the quote so much he felt compelled to take a picture of it. I've always seen it as a mantra for those who are not the most talented, the underdog. They can still come out on top because often times, especially in sport, those who are very talented sometimes slack, thinking they can get by on talent alone. But you're right, it can also be a mantra for those who have the talent, to be reminded that they must always work as hard as possible.

Hopefully this is not too off topic. I've been going through the old posts here about archetypes. Some great discussions, but I'm still struggling with the distinction between Attractor and Trickster. There was a good description of the former involving 'heart' and the latter 'will'. While that's helpful, I'm still struggling, as often it seems a character involves a heavy dose of both. Particularly I'm looking at buddy films. Sometimes it seems clear: Sherlock Holmes(the Ritchie version) attractor = Watson trickster = Irene (though some might say Irene is the attractor for obvious reasons) Lethal Weapon attractor = Murtock's daughter trickster = Riggs It just seems to me that the trickster and the attractor can often be combined into the same character, especially in buddy films or rom coms. If anyone can add anything to further my understanding, much appreciated.

It's nice to see the word talent coming back into usage. After a decade of Gladwell's Outliers and The Talent Code telling us anybody can do anything with just 10,000 hours of practice, we're starting to realize there has to be an element of talent. I think the problem with the word has been the lack of value we place on the different talents we might have. The Romans made it easy, believing if you liked it, that was your talent and your destiny. We don't let that happen in our culture. We're required to have some noble reason for why we do what we do, aim for the goals that appeal to us, and work so hard at endeavors that may never pay off. My husband is a perfect example of this. He can't explain it, but he loves teaching and has a natural talent for it. The way his kids adore him is proof of that. Sometimes I watch him in the mornings when he moves so slow, looks so thin and weary, and I think he's getting too old for these demands, he's got to get into some other line of work if he insists on working. Then I watch him in the rear view mirror when I drive him to school, and I swear he gets taller and stronger and younger with every step he takes towards the campus. By the time he puts his keys in the door and turns around to wave goodbye for the day, his ashen face of the morning is gone and he's flushed with youthful health. It's an amazing transformation and one I'd hope for anyone looking for their purpose in life or wondering what their true talent is.

Cyd, thanks for that description of your husband. I so admire teachers and if I was Grand Poobah in charge of economic policy, I'd cut military spending in half and give most of that money to teachers and schools. Some of the most important people in my life have been teachers, so please tell your husband thanks on ALL of our behalf. Re talent: Absolutely necessary to cut it in the arts. Yes, there is a lot of emphasis put on hard work, persistence, diligence, but that's primarily because creative types can... you know... tend toward the slacker side. But I don't think you can succeed as a writer if you don't love movies or TV, immerse yourself in those worlds, study everything, AND have writing talent. My first tip-off with college students: Do they exhibit a love for language? If they do, then that is a sign to me they have talent, as it's pulled them toward words. What is the Talent Code?