It took 35 years, but the time was well spent and I think I have established a good stake in the future.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I think that there was a period of time - and I would reckon it was about 12 years - where I was just determined to see if I could build a career for myself.
It's so funny looking back, but my so-called overnight success actually took 15 years. I remember when I didn't have any money, and my only car was mom's Hyundai.
When when my first feature opportunity came along, I wasn't prepared, but we did it in about 17 days.
It takes a couple of years just to get the background and knowledge that you need before you can go into detailed training for your mission.
There was a solid year and a half, perhaps two years, after making 'Temple Grandin,' when I didn't do anything. I just didn't have much patience for roles that were silly, or light, or inconsequential.
I learned how important timing is; having a really good idea five years ahead of its time is practically worthless.
I joined the air force. I took to it immediately when I arrived there. I did three years, eight months, and ten days in all, but it took me a year and a half to get disabused of my romantic notions about it.
It didn't take long to establish myself, as far as people thinking my work was good. They liked it from the start.
So it took me five years because in the interim I have been doing a lot of personal appearances and movies and some television series that went into the plumbing and I stopped writing for a while.
It takes 20 years to make an overnight success.