As someone who just decided, say, 20 minutes ago to become a writer, I say thanks for the tips! I'm going to rush right on over to Amazon and buy those books you mentioned. I figure as a starving writer you need the commissions anyway.

As for your other problem... don't really know what to say about that. I just became a writer 20 minutes ago, see. If I hear of anything I'll let you know, but the writing circles I've been running in within the past 20 minutes haven't been much help. (In fact, you ARE my writing circle. How ironic.)

When I get to the intermediate stage I'll be happy to share my wisdom. But if by some stroke of luck my first piece (this posted comment, perhaps) is optioned for a movie deal and becomes a big Hollywood blockbuster complete with fast food restaurant promotional tie-ins, I'm not going to press my luck. I'm going to retire on the beach somewhere and will be happy to finance your intermediate writing stage. That should take some of the pressure off. Hell, I'll even start a publishing company just for you.

P.S. I am also part of my office Powerball pool. The offer also stands if we hit the big one.