Life of a Modern Writer in One Scene

FADE IN:

INT. SOCIAL EVENT- DAY

WRITER is talking with a group of friends at a social event. Standing in the group is MOVER & SHAKER, a stranger to Writer. Mover & Shaker overhears that Writer is a writer.

Mover & Shaker
Did I hear that you’re a writer? Like a novelist? Can I read your book?

Writer
No, no. I haven’t written a book. I mean, I’d like to?

Mover & Shaker
So what do you write then?

Writer
(laughs nervously)
Anything that pays the bills!

Mover & Shaker blankly stares at Writer. Perspiration forms on Writer’s upper lip, a furry upper lip she hasn’t been able to wax in two years due to tight finances.

Writer
Uh…I write essays for publications, things like that.

Mover & Shaker
You’re a journalist then?

Writer
No, no. I write “creative non-fiction,” I guess you could say.

Mover & Shaker continues staring at Writer. Writer pulls her collar from her neck.

Writer
Is it warm in here?

Mover & Shaker doesn’t respond. If Writer had a knife, she would take that knife and stab at the thick layer of awkwardness hovering between them.

Writer
Uh…I’ve written a couple of posts that have gone viral!

Mover & Shaker
That’s awesome. You must have made a lot of money off of those.

Writer
Actually, no.

Mover & Shaker
No?

Writer
Well, I write on my blog and on Medium, and neither pay.

Mover & Shaker
You don’t make money off of your blog?

Writer
Fifty dollars a month.

Mover & Shaker
So how do you get by?

Writer
I’m also a copywriter.

Mover & Shaker
Oh, so you work at an advertising agency then?

Writer
No, I do freelance marketing for a lot of brands.

Mover & Shaker continues staring at Writer. Writer looks down at her palms. They look so tiny.

Writer
But I wrote a movie as well! It played at SXSW and a bunch of festivals.

Mover & Shaker
That’s great. How I can I see it? Is it on DVD? Can I rent it?

Writer
Yeah, kind of. I mean you can watch it through all the streaming sites.

Mover & Shaker
You must get money from that!

Writer
No, no money.

Mover & Shaker
Nothing?

Writer
Zero dollars.

Mover & Shaker
Hey, can I tell you about this idea I have? I’ve been wanting to write my autobiography and maybe you can write it for me. I don’t have a budget for it, but I think it will do really well….

Writer nods and smiles, a dead, faraway look in her eyes.

FADE OUT.