| Of all the professions to choose, being a writer would | | | | 2. Fannie Flagg |
| seem to be one of the most trying for a person | | | | Growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, Flagg struggled |
| with a learning disability. Still, some people with | | | | with severe dyslexia, which led her to believe that |
| scholastic problems-even those that interfere | | | | her dreams of being a professional writer were out |
| specifically with language, such as dyslexia,feel the | | | | of reach. She initially began her career as a news |
| urge to express themselves through writing. The | | | | anchor, then moved on to acting in such movies as |
| obstacles these individuals encounter are considerable, | | | | Five Easy Pieces and Grease. While Flagg had found |
| but if they can find a way to overcome them, they | | | | success as an actress, the pull to write was just too |
| just might be able to create a true work of literary | | | | strong to ignore. A writers' conference inspired her to |
| art. The following writers have all struggled with | | | | craft her first short story, for which she won a prize. |
| learning disabilities and have proven that the | | | | Encouraged by this warm reception, Flagg began |
| challenges that those with learning problems face | | | | writing in earnest. Her bestselling novel, Fried Green |
| head-on can often reap the biggest rewards. Among | | | | Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, was turned into |
| these inspirational examples are: | | | | a much beloved movie, for which she wrote the |
| 1. Robert BentonThis 74-year-old screenwriter grew | | | | Academy Award nominated screenplay. Flagg's warm, |
| up during a time when there wasn't much information | | | | funny novels have continued to land on the bestseller |
| available about dyslexia. Finding reading and writing | | | | lists. Her latest book is Can't Wait to Get to Heaven. |
| difficult and branded as "slow," Benton's imagination | | | | 3. Wendy Wasserstein |
| was captured by the movies. He became a film | | | | This late, great playwright also struggled with dyslexia |
| fanatic, watching his favorites over and over again. | | | | throughout her formative years. She went on to |
| This dedication led him to a deep understanding of | | | | receive degrees from Mount Holyoke, City College of |
| what worked and what didn't in the cinematic world. | | | | New York, and Yale. Wasserstein was known for |
| After a brief stint as an art director for Esquire | | | | extremely witty and incisive plays about intelligent, |
| magazine, Benton decided to try his hand at | | | | successful women dealing with their inner demons. |
| screenwriting by partnering with his friend, David | | | | The Heidi Chronicles catapulted her into theatre world |
| Newman. The product of their partnership was the | | | | superstardom, earning her a Tony Award and a |
| critically-acclaimed screenplay for Bonnie & Clyde | | | | Pulitzer Prize. Her final play, Third, opened on |
| which launched his writing career. Benton went on to | | | | Broadway in 2005. She is also the author of four |
| win best screenplay Academy Awards for Places in | | | | books, including Elements of Style, and wrote the |
| the Heart and Kramer vs. Kramer. He continues | | | | screenplay for the film version of The Object of My |
| writing professionally to this day; his most recent | | | | Affection. |
| work was the script for The Ice Harvest. | | | | |