Richard LaGravenese Quotes

The best piece of advice I ever got from anyone was when Spike Jonze said, 'Take money out of the equation.' And that's actually when Vice started making lots of money. That's when I stopped worrying about money and started worrying about what I wanted to do.

I get to do interesting roles and make a living.

There's a part of me that wants to be known and make a comfortable living but still be able to go grocery shopping. My overall idea of success is having people I want to work with want to work with me.

I'm happy with my place in the firmament here. I like to produce movies and that's where I want to be.

I'd much rather do an obviously commercial writing project than get a day job.

The perfect life would be to have an amazing part every year and to spend all my free time to just write.

I opted for a freelance writing career. I was lucky enough to have the means to do it.

I actually went to study journalism at Northwestern, thinking that would be my Plan B for a career. But then I realized, if I'm going to struggle and make no money, I might as well do what I really want to do.

The only real reason to write professionally is that you love it enough.

I simply don't want to enter the rat race. I like doing movies because I like acting and not because I want to reach the top.

I have a teaching job that allows me to pay the rent and affords me to, frankly, write the books I want to write.

If I end up having a novel that sells really well and that allows me to pay for health insurance and mortgage without having to work at a day job, that would be great.

Television allows you to actually make a living, feed your children, send them to college and important significant things. To have the ability, the luxury, to make the choices of doing little movies where people cannot pay you.

I believe that being dependent makes you more vulnerable. I believe work is the greatest gift you will ever receive.

I work so I don't need to make rent through my songs, and I think if more people engaged with music without needing it to provide for their welfare, you're not beholden to anyone.

I had my jazz club and I had enough money. So I didn't have to write for my living.

People think that at the end of the day a man is the only answer. Actually, a fulfilling job is better for me.

Once I found acting and found that I could get away with it and make a living out of it, I was thrilled.

For almost anyone who chooses to be a writer, since so very few writers are able to learn a living from their work that is equivalent to the living earned by the average dentist or accountant.

I began as a journalist for my pocketbook and a poet for my soul.

Zombie books were going to be my passion projects, but certainly not pay the bills. I thought I was going to have to get a real job on a sitcom or something, and have my zombie books to remind myself I was still a writer at heart. I never thought I could actually pay my bills and write what I wanted.

One thing I don't want to feel is marketplace pressure, so I'm really glad I enjoy teaching because I can rely on that for a salary. I think it would be such a different game if I had to write a book that has to sell well.

My big goal in life was always to figure out how I can make a lot of money so I can go off and make films irrespective of the opinion of the three or four critics who seem to rule the roost.

I knew I'd have to go to work in real estate or something else or I could never finish my novel.

Sometimes I wonder why I'm not working at McDonald's and how come I have the life I have. I don't know. But I'm happy that I have these choices. That's kinda sappy, huh? But whatever, acting beats pumping gas.