I have been a writer most of my life. I started writing screenplays in high school (that were not very good), wrote more in college while studying television and film (that were better) and finally sold a few in Los Angeles when I moved there to pursue screenwriting full-time (those were good). While I even have my name on a film (see IMDB), I fell in love and moved into the computer field because it was time to raise a family. Even now, twenty plus years later, I still love writing.
I have been writing novels – none published – mostly for myself. My kids are grown, and I think I am much wiser, and a much better writer. I have no aspirations to return to screenplays, but telling stories is something inside of me. My first book took ten years to write, my second six months. I’m already on my third.
Writing is an isolating task, so over the years I have created or joined numerous writing groups. I’m hosting one right now in Austin. And it has helped me tremendously with storytelling. When I was in Los Angeles, I helped support myself by being a script and book reader, often for major stars at the time (Michael Douglas, Dolly Parton, and others). I’ve read and critiqued for pay literally more than a thousand scripts and at least 250 books. I am also an avid reader in my quiet time.
Furthermore, I owe my story ability in no small part to two amazing friends who helped some of the greats of the previous generations. Rosemary Torigian was part of Ayn Rand’s inner circle as well as the screenwriters, Ron Shusett and Dino De Laurentiis. Kristin Jarrett besides being an Italian screenwriter in her own right, also helped writers like Umberto Eco. Their accomplishments are not mine, but seeing them work over and over on story, made me a better author.
Finally, when I switched from writing to computers I became part of the next wave of technology and I have worked on building the initial websites for companies like Disney, I was part of the automation revolutions with Cisco Systems and just left IPsoft/Amelia leading the AI revolution. This all has led to an amazing amount of stories and insights into what is happening in science and technology and where society is headed.
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