As of this month, I became a professional screenwriter.
In short, I am now under contract to write my first paid screenplay for a producer. It is based on a book by a veteran, and it stands a good chance at being produced – as the production team already has an established presence in this genre.
And now, I get to be a part of the story.
If you have been following my journey, you know what this means. It means the goal, the dream that has driven my creative efforts for my entire life has basically become a reality… before my 29th birthday.
And I could not be more grateful. So can I yell about it?
I’M WRITING A MOVIE!!!
That felt good. 😊
Now want some more good news?
This month, another script of mine placed in two international contests.
As a Second Rounder in the Austin Film Festival, and now as a Finalist in Final Draft’s Big Break contest. We’ll find out in November if it wins. These are both contests that I honestly just threw the script into, not expecting anything from, but I had 50 bucks to spare and thought “Why not?” And then forgot about it.
Well. Well.
I truly believe sometimes it is the things we seek the least that come to fruition.
Oh don’t get me wrong – I’ve worked my butt off trying to get good. Getting feedback, hearing the hard truth, rewriting, trying new genres, reading other scripts. Growing.
But at the time I submitted this script to the contests, I didn’t think it would win anything. In fact, I still don’t count on winning. Because I know there’s plenty of writers whose work is better, and these things are so subjective anyway. But placing has been enough confirmation of two things:
This is where God wants me for now, and every door that opens is truly His doing.
I say “for now,” because even now – at what looks like the beginning of my life’s dream come true – things could change.
I don’t have control. But then again, I never did.
If the last four years have taught me anything… it’s that.
Any success or hardship we face isn’t because we wrought it for ourselves. Sure, there is a correlation between our actions and the outcomes. But if you read the book of Job, you see the story of a man realizing he shoulders neither all the blame nor all the credit for the things that came his way.
So yes, it feels amazing to get this news. To share it with you. But ultimately, there’s a confession:
I need to focus on who, not what I become.
I want to be the person who shows up and works hard. The person who is there for friends and family. The person willing to give and receive hard truth. The person willing to apologize and ask forgiveness. The person who obeys God’s Word even if it costs her ego and agenda.
In short, the person who loves God with all her heart, soul, and strength.
That’s the who – the sum of character qualities it takes a lifetime to grow.
The what can change at any time – the sum of achievements and failures.
Especially when you’re riding high, feeling good, it’s tempting to start leaning into that what. Notice the first sentence of this post? 😉 Case in point.
But that’s what I want to close this article with.
Yes, I want to share my successes with you. But I want to confess that I’m no important today than I was yesterday. I’m no more in control than I ever was. If you know me personally, I invite you to help keep me humble and remind me of this if I ever forget.
And if you have been one of the people encouraging and spurring me on – or perhaps one who received my frantic text of ecstasy when this news came through –
THANK YOU.
You will never know how much I appreciate you.
“From Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”
Romans 11:36