Sara Stiffler: Marketing/pr, screenwriter and photographer (still) in Beavercreek, Ohio.

Hi all,

I am an aspiring writer/screenwriter attempting to pull off a Second Act, late-in-life change of career. As such, I suffer from Stage IV Imposter Syndrome. I don't think I really belong here. I know nothing of Hollywood and how it works. I haven't sold a script or a manuscript or even won a short story contest. I am middle aged and worked my way up to the middle in an unrelated career. Nope, I'm SURE I don't belong here.

The thing is, I want to. For years I have low-key been preparing for this. I don't have youth but I've got ideas and plans and courage, and - I'm told - talent. I want to see if that dog hunts before the end. I HAVE to see. I HAVE to at least try. Improbable and impossible are two different words.

There's a line from the movie Legally Blonde that blew me away when I first saw it: Elle, the protagonist, decides to quit Harvard Law because she felt out of place. She says something akin to "I need to stop trying to be something I'm not." Her male love interest responds, "What if you're trying to be something that you are." So there it is. And here I am. Pleased to meet you.

Hi, I'm Sara. I'm making the transition from screenwriting to novel writing. What's your experience been in making this transition yourself and do you have any words of advice to a first-time novel writer?

Hi Sara. I'm RB, Founder and CEO of Stage 32. As a screenwriter, producer, actor and filmmaker, I know first-hand the challenges all creatives face finding work, landing representation, launching projects, securing funding and simply making the connections that will make a difference in their careers. That's why I created Stage 32. Since our launch in September of 2011, the community has grown to 1,000,000+ members representing every country on the planet making Stage 32 the social network uniquely populated with the most creative people on Earth.

This is a network for you, built by you. Like most things in life, the more you participate, the greater the rewards. We ask all new members to pay it forward by inviting 5 fellow creatives to the network and by spreading the word of Stage 32 through other social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. The more creatives, the stronger the network. The stronger the network, the more opportunities.

Thanks for joining the movement and for being a part of this most talented and inspiring community. I very much look forward to your contributions.

Thanks, and have a creative day!

RB

Helpful information:

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Hello Sara -

Welcome to the community! I'm Amanda Toney, the Managing Director at Stage 32. Since 2013 I've been proud to oversee Stage 32's Next Level Education, which provides you the most up-to-date tools necessary to become a better creative.

Over the years Stage 32 has worked with over 500 industry executives and professionals to teach online webinars, classes and intensive labs exclusively for you - our Stage 32 community. We bring you instructors who have worked directly on some of your favorite films, TV shows or theater productions to teach you in-the-trenches information that you won't find anywhere else on producing, directing, financing, writing, packaging, acting and more.

Our Next Level Education has a 97% satisfaction rate and averages 4.5 out of 5 stars. Plus, we've had the honor to be called "LinkedIn meets Lynda.com for film, television and theater creatives" by Forbes Magazine.

I encourage you to take the next step to continue learning and expanding your career by clicking here, or clicking "education" on your top menu bar.

I'm grateful you've joined the Stage 32 community. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Amanda