You want to be a writer – I get it. The hours are good and just maybe you’ll be the next Lorrie Moore (and/or J. Grisham). But before you call and book your glamour shots, there’s something you need to know. And what you need to know is this: If you’re going to be a writer, you have to accept that you’ll never come up with a character’s name better than (or even as good as) Johnny Utah (See: Break, Point). Oh, sure, you can try. And lots of luck to you. But at some point you’ll drop your pen and mutter, “Son of a gun. He was right!” And by he, I mean me.
You can’t take this personally. Johnny Utah…let’s just say it: he’s the perfect character. Not only was he a star quarterback in College (D-1!), but he was an FBI agent. Not only was he an FBI agent, but he could surf! How much more convincing do you need?
Could Hamlet surf? Was Hamlet an FBI agent? Did Hamlet play quarterback in College? No, no and NO. Advantage – Johnny Utah. I think that’s enough for one night, don’t you?
Dan Hendrickson - Writer 