"In 1920 a young Columbia journalism student answered an ad for "Assistant to Story Editor at Universal Pictures." In her new job, Frederica Sagor found herself reviewing the opening night performances of Broadway plays, and she soon became the story editor herself. But after four years, the heads of Universal's New York office reneged on their promise to help her become a screenwriter."--BOOK JACKET. "So the ambitious twenty-three-year-old moved to Hollywood and launched her own writing career by drafting a screenplay of the bestselling novel, The Plastic Age for the "It" girl Clara Bow. On the basis of that script, she landed a staff position at the giant MGM studio."--BOOK JACKET. "For over twenty years, Frederica and her friends struggled to survive in this incredibly competitive environment. She watched many decent, talented people lose their way to the pull of sex or drugs."--BOOK JACKET. "Through it all, Frederica remained a passionate, outspoken woman in an industry run by powerful men, and her provocative, nonconformist ways brought her both success and failure. Her revealing memoir offers a unique perspective on the film industry and Hollywood culture in their early days and illuminates the plight of Hollywood writers working within the studio system."--BOOK JACKET.