The Path of Mastery: from a Jack-of-All

As a "jack-of all trades," I want to become a master.

It has been 10 years since I've graduated university. My reflection of that time is summed up in a word: dreadful. On one hand, I "wasted" those years. I bounced between jobs, dreams, and wishes. I didn't stay put long enough to "make something of myself." And yet, I don't regret those 10 years of highs and lows. They have made me the person I am. All the memories & adventures, failures & triumphs are the story of Me.

And yet I feel lost. For those 10 years I convinced myself that I wasn't good enough. I believed that because I "wasted" my 20s, I didn't deserved to be successful.

Videos about common place books and personal curriculum flooded my social feeds. It had to be a sign. The rabbit holes led me to one question:

Can I become a master of something, of my choosing, with a personal curriculum?

At this point, I have nothing to lose.

The one constant thing I've had in my life are stories. I love all formats they come in and I get excited when I hear a new story. It's the one thing that has the power to bond and bring people together. And I want to become a master of it.

I got my degree in screenwriting and yet I know nothing about it. In reality I know somethings but I couldn't give a lecture on it. If I had to do that tomorrow my knowledge would be off of vibes and experience. My educational journey and style has been done is better than perfect & a passing grade is passing.

I never took the art, discipline, and study of writing seriously. After 10 years, I want to go back and study. I want to learn what makes a great story. I want to take my dreams and turn them into my real life, however long it takes.

Here is the current list of books:

• The Anatomy of Story by John Truby: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller

• Story by Robert McKee: Substance, Structure, Style, & the Principles of Screenwriting

• The Protagonist's Journey by Scott Myers: An Introduction to Character-Driven Screenwriting & Storytelling

• The Anatomy of Genres by John Truby: How Story Forms Explain The Way The World Works

• Screenplay by Sid Field: The Foundations of Screenwriting-A Step-by-Step Guide from Concept to Finished Script

• The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell

Some of these I read in university, some I pretended to read, and the others Google recommended. I hope you follow along my journey and enjoy the stories.

First up is Story by Robert McKee.