19 quotes
Discussion About Writing Contests
Jamal
You ever enter one of those?
Forrester
Writing contest?
Jamal
Yeah.
Forrester
Once, long time ago.
Jamal
Did you win?
Forrester
Well of course I won!
Jamal
Like money or somethin’?
Forrester
The Pulitzer.
The Value of Belief and Risk
Forrester
In some cultures it's good luck to be wearing something inside-out.
Jamal
And you believe that?
Forrester
No, but it's like praying: what do you risk?
Miscommunication Between Jamal and Forrester
Jamal
I ain't seen nothin change.
Forrester
You ain't seen nothin'? What the hell kind of sentence is that?!
Writing: Heart First, Head Later
William Forrester
No thinking — that comes later. You must write your first draft with your heart. You rewrite with your head. The first key to writing is... to write, not to think!
Identifying William Forrester
William Forrester
My name is...William Forrester. Excuse me. I'm that one.
[put on glasses; drinking a water; pointing to a 'writers's wall of fame picture]
A Writer's Reluctance to Mentor
Jamal
I came back to see, if you could help me out with my writing.
Forrester
Here's one: 5,000 words on why you'll stay the fuck out of my home!
Questioning Assumptions in a Game Show Context
Jamal Wallace
I'll take poor assumptions for $800, Alex
The Power of Unexpected Gifts in Relationships
William Forrester
The key to a woman's heart is an unexpected gift at an unexpected time.
The Influence of Writing on Relationships
Jamal
Women will sleep with you if you write a book?
Forrester
Women will sleep with you if you write a bad book.
Embracing Dreams and Personal Growth
William Forrester
Dear Jamal, Someone I once knew wrote that we walk away from our dreams afraid that we may fail or worse yet, afraid we may succeed. You need to know that while I knew so very early that you would realize your dreams, I never imagined I would once again realize my own. Seasons change young man, and while I may have waited until the winter of my life, to see the things I've seen this past year, there is no doubt I would have waited too long, had it not been for you.
[Jamal opens the letter]
Questioning Intentions in Performance
Forrester
About those free-throws...Did you miss them? Or did you "miss" them?
Jamal
Not exactly a soup question, now is it?
[Smirks]
Limits of Opportunity and Success
Terell Wallace
They always let you get but so far... before they take everything away from you.
Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt
Jamal Wallace
Man, You William, You too scared man....
Understanding Life Through Literature
Jamal
We've been talking about your book at school.
Forrester
People have been talking about it for years. They just haven't been saying anything.
Jamal
I think I got it down, though. I figure you were writing about how life never works out.
Forrester
Really? You had to read a book to figure that out?
The Value of Personal Expression in Writing
William Forrester
Why is it that the words that we write for ourselves are always so much better than the words we write for others?
Invitation to enter with caution
William Forrester
Bolt the door, if you're coming in.
Empowerment in a Moment of Confidence
William Forrester
Yes! YES! You're the man now, dog!
Writing Confidentiality in Forrester's Apartment
William Forrester
What you write in this apartment stays in this apartment. No exceptions.
[to Jamal]