“As a kid, I had the Super 8, we were making backyard epics, and somebody had to write the scripts,” jokes Howard Klausner about his screenwriting career. “I struck out as a guitar player and actor, but I knew how to write.”

Klausner is best known for SPACE COWBOYS, DIRTY HARRY: THE ORIGINAL, THE LAST RIDE, GOD’S NOT DEAD: A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS and most recently, REAGAN.

The latest film stars Dennis Quaid, Penelope Ann Miller, and Jon Voight. The story is “a drama based on the life of Ronald Reagan, from his childhood to his time in the oval office” that took 14 years to get made.

In this interview, Howard talks about advice from Clint Eastwood, “what do I care about versus what am I trying to sell?,” his love for the Hero’s Journey, shifting from being hired help to being the Band of Brothers, advice for indie filmmakers, and the intangibles that drive writers to craft specs.

Want more? Steal my first book, Ink by the Barrel - Secrets From Prolific Writers right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on hundreds of interviews here at Creative Principles.