Great post! Thanks Scott…and Jeff. Now I'm going to go spend some time soaking up culture (e.g. read a great book).

This is smart advice and can definitely save inexperienced writers from getting taken for a ride.

Live life. An important feature of evolving into a strong writer.

There are a surprising number of outfits out there who are ready, willing and able to take aspiring writers for a $$ ride. The odds against making any money / becoming a pro writer are really long. Be VERY careful if and when you (anyone) choose to spend your $$ on someone for whatever services they offer. Do due diligence in your research. And remember, you can learn the craft for next to no expenditure just by doing the following: Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. Of course, this blog is free, too. One reason I started it, to offer an alternative to some of the hucksters at work out there.