Comments on: Why We Write – Number 2: Steve Levitan http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/ Born of the Strike. From Writers, for Writers. Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:10:53 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Kyle S. Quinn http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-596 Kyle S. Quinn Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:07:48 +0000 http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-596 Steve, love to chat up new project!! Won't be long. tks. KSQ Steve, love to chat up new project!! Won’t be long. tks. KSQ

]]> By: Thom Bray http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-96 Thom Bray Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:27:24 +0000 http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-96 Steve: As the father of three teenagers I can tell you that soon shouting from the car will no longer be enough. You'll have to mortify them at the mall, before and after school, etc. And soon, that'll be so easy, it won't even be sport anymore! Steve:

As the father of three teenagers I can tell you that soon shouting from the car will no longer be enough. You’ll have to mortify them at the mall, before and after school, etc. And soon, that’ll be so easy, it won’t even be sport anymore!

]]> By: Firefighter http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-40 Firefighter Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:54:02 +0000 http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-40 Greed is Greed But Greed at the expence of others is a crime. I understand what a hard job it is to lift a pencil and dream up Ideas while drinking coffee How lucky I am that my job is less stressfull. Lets hope that if you should ever have need, Im not on strike trying to obtain a wage increase that would still see me earning many times less than yourselves. Greed is Greed
But Greed at the expence of others is a crime.

I understand what a hard job it is to lift a pencil and dream up Ideas while drinking coffee
How lucky I am that my job is less stressfull.

Lets hope that if you should ever have need, Im not on strike trying to obtain a wage increase that would still see me earning many times less than yourselves.

]]> By: Brooks Briggs http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-39 Brooks Briggs Fri, 28 Dec 2007 07:51:31 +0000 http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-39 Nice piece. Probably my favorite so far. This essay series has made me reflect on an essay Paul Auster wrote that appeared in the New Yorker in 1995 called "Why Write?" Ever read it? Highly recommended. Really sums up how life drives a writer to the page. There's a transcription on some public school site. Take a look. http://shs.westport.k12.ct.us/chia/AP/handouts/why_write.htm Don't give up your fingers, though. Didn't go well even for the Bionic Woman this year. Nice piece. Probably my favorite so far. This essay series has made me reflect on an essay Paul Auster wrote that appeared in the New Yorker in 1995 called “Why Write?” Ever read it? Highly recommended. Really sums up how life drives a writer to the page. There’s a transcription on some public school site. Take a look.

http://shs.westport.k12.ct.us/chia/AP/handouts/why_write.htm

Don’t give up your fingers, though. Didn’t go well even for the Bionic Woman this year.

]]> By: Christopher Vickers http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-38 Christopher Vickers Fri, 28 Dec 2007 05:29:47 +0000 http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-38 Steve, Although I'm not yet a member of the WGA (and hope to be one at some time in my life), I know where you're coming from, but my life is a bit more of a struggle. I see writing as an outlet to get away from my current day job of flipping hamburgers for minimum wage every day. I would like for my writing to be known. But that day may not come unless a deal can be struck with the WGA and AMPTP. You're encouraging me to continue with my end of the fight, and keep to all of my resolutions both personal and as an aspiring writer. Let's show those turkeys who's REALLY being shot in the foot. Steve,

Although I’m not yet a member of the WGA (and hope to be one at some time in my life), I know where you’re coming from, but my life is a bit more of a struggle. I see writing as an outlet to get away from my current day job of flipping hamburgers for minimum wage every day.

I would like for my writing to be known. But that day may not come unless a deal can be struck with the WGA and AMPTP. You’re encouraging me to continue with my end of the fight, and keep to all of my resolutions both personal and as an aspiring writer. Let’s show those turkeys who’s REALLY being shot in the foot.

]]> By: Ethan http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-35 Ethan Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:58:15 +0000 http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-35 Kickass essay, sir. Thanks very much for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us. @ Gladgirl: That is a fantastic idea about “Why I’m a Mogul” “As a child I would play in the orchards until six or ten of my servants would carry me on a rickshaw made of pillows into the house where I would enjoy my twice-daily snack of gold deplumes (whether I was hungry or not) and watch Ducktales. I remember vividly how I would watch Scrooge Mcduck swimming through his money pit and thinking to myself, that’s the kind of modest, simple life I could lead.” All the best, guys, E Kickass essay, sir. Thanks very much for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us.

@ Gladgirl: That is a fantastic idea about “Why I’m a Mogul”

“As a child I would play in the orchards until six or ten of my servants would carry me on a rickshaw made of pillows into the house where I would enjoy my twice-daily snack of gold deplumes (whether I was hungry or not) and watch Ducktales. I remember vividly how I would watch Scrooge Mcduck swimming through his money pit and thinking to myself, that’s the kind of modest, simple life I could lead.”

All the best, guys,

E

]]> By: Roy http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-32 Roy Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:08:23 +0000 http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-32 Steve, you remind me of me when I'm writing. To quote Curtis Mayfield, keep on keeping on. :D Steve, you remind me of me when I’m writing. To quote Curtis Mayfield, keep on keeping on. :D

]]> By: Jen Sparkman http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-23 Jen Sparkman Thu, 27 Dec 2007 03:52:18 +0000 http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-23 Thanks for writing your essay. I'm a college student and it gives me hope that people like you are helping the generation like me earn a living someday. You are very encouraging person Thanks for writing your essay. I’m a college student and it gives me hope that people like you are helping the generation like me earn a living someday. You are very encouraging person

]]> By: Jacob David http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-18 Jacob David Tue, 25 Dec 2007 23:29:24 +0000 http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-18 Steve Levitan's essay reads true. While his friends were out barhopping and it was fourteen below, the writer's mind hums with dreams yet unrealized, characters yet unshaped. It is a pang called the birthing process, this deep ache to create. And when that has been done and the show takes shape, writing is done. The writer has then achieved his true meaning and conceived the soul of the show in realistic terms. That is writing, because writers don't do it because there is money involved. Money is great and lots of it, but a writer is more at home in the midst of his characters (the new ones) that he breathes life into and watch them walk and talk around him. He gives a proper definition and shapes them, the voices that play in his head in the form of a story. It is conceptualization of an idea that the writer has and the true joy he feels as his work is completed on screen is indescribable - it is so much more than a billion dollars. Steve Levitan’s essay reads true. While his friends were out barhopping and it was fourteen below, the writer’s mind hums with dreams yet unrealized, characters yet unshaped. It is a pang called the birthing process, this deep ache to create. And when that has been done and the show takes shape, writing is done. The writer has then achieved his true meaning and conceived the soul of the show in realistic terms. That is writing, because writers don’t do it because there is money involved. Money is great and lots of it, but a writer is more at home in the midst of his characters (the new ones) that he breathes life into and watch them walk and talk around him. He gives a proper definition and shapes them, the voices that play in his head in the form of a story. It is conceptualization of an idea that the writer has and the true joy he feels as his work is completed on screen is indescribable – it is so much more than a billion dollars.

]]> By: Mark Mercer http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-17 Mark Mercer Tue, 25 Dec 2007 22:26:38 +0000 http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/why-we-write-number-2-steve-levitan/#comment-17 Steve: I had the opportunity to hear you speak at a lecture a few years back at UCLA. Your words were inspiring then and they are inspiring now. Thanks for not only creating really good television but also for giving encouragement to those who hope to join your cause. Mark Mercer Steve:

I had the opportunity to hear you speak at a lecture a few years back at UCLA. Your words were inspiring then and they are inspiring now.

Thanks for not only creating really good television but also for giving encouragement to those who hope to join your cause.

Mark Mercer

]]>