Bob DeRosa
@bobderosa.bsky.social
Writer of movies (CLASSIFIED, KILLERS, THE AIR I BREATHE), TV (WHITE COLLAR), and audio fiction (CATCHERS, VIDEO PALACE).
https://bobderosa.com
https://bobderosawriter.substack.com
https://bobderosa.com
https://bobderosawriter.substack.com
Pinned
Bob DeRosa
@bobderosa.bsky.social
· Nov 11
My screenwriting career by the numbers:
I've written 38 feature scripts
Made money on 10
4 were assignments
2 were optioned but never sold
1 was sold but never made
3 were sold and made
2 out to financiers with attachments
New script out to producers
Currently writing #39
There are no shortcuts!
I've written 38 feature scripts
Made money on 10
4 were assignments
2 were optioned but never sold
1 was sold but never made
3 were sold and made
2 out to financiers with attachments
New script out to producers
Currently writing #39
There are no shortcuts!
A speculative publication I'm interested in submitting to said they offer brownie points if a story makes them chuckle. Challenge accepted.
November 26, 2025 at 2:43 AM
A speculative publication I'm interested in submitting to said they offer brownie points if a story makes them chuckle. Challenge accepted.
New script off to my agent! It's darker than I normally write, but this story got its hooks in me. Really it's the main character. Something about her has been scratching at the inside of my skull for the last couple years. We'll see if she sees the light of day. #scriptsky
November 18, 2025 at 11:43 PM
New script off to my agent! It's darker than I normally write, but this story got its hooks in me. Really it's the main character. Something about her has been scratching at the inside of my skull for the last couple years. We'll see if she sees the light of day. #scriptsky
The first step in packaging a script is usually landing a director and it's awesome when you do - except most directors attach to multiple projects to hedge their bets which means if another one goes first, then your movie's either in line or dead. Why am I sharing this? Uh no reason. Sigh.
November 17, 2025 at 5:18 PM
The first step in packaging a script is usually landing a director and it's awesome when you do - except most directors attach to multiple projects to hedge their bets which means if another one goes first, then your movie's either in line or dead. Why am I sharing this? Uh no reason. Sigh.
Pitch out to audio exec, new feature draft out to manager, book out to possible agents. Waiting waiting waiting waiting.........
November 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Pitch out to audio exec, new feature draft out to manager, book out to possible agents. Waiting waiting waiting waiting.........
People often say they want a Presidential candidate they feel they can have a beer with. I want a candidate willing to hold an umbrella over a little dog while she pees in the rain.
November 16, 2025 at 6:19 PM
People often say they want a Presidential candidate they feel they can have a beer with. I want a candidate willing to hold an umbrella over a little dog while she pees in the rain.
My mother called to tell me that due to my concern with rising health insurance rates, I should get a job at Wal Mart for their sweet benefits and just "write at night." If she's not careful, she's going to accidentally land a career in politics.
November 16, 2025 at 5:34 PM
My mother called to tell me that due to my concern with rising health insurance rates, I should get a job at Wal Mart for their sweet benefits and just "write at night." If she's not careful, she's going to accidentally land a career in politics.
Had a great time at the LA premiere of the indie film American Solitaire (my wife did the costumes!) It's a lovely film about a veteran wrestling with America's complicated relationship with guns. Hopefully it'll be at a film festival near you SOON!
November 14, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Had a great time at the LA premiere of the indie film American Solitaire (my wife did the costumes!) It's a lovely film about a veteran wrestling with America's complicated relationship with guns. Hopefully it'll be at a film festival near you SOON!
When it was apparent that the film & TV business was dying, I decided to balance my work with projects in audio fiction & book publishing and now I'm fully invested in three dying industries instead of one. I'll let you know how that shakes out.
November 13, 2025 at 4:58 PM
When it was apparent that the film & TV business was dying, I decided to balance my work with projects in audio fiction & book publishing and now I'm fully invested in three dying industries instead of one. I'll let you know how that shakes out.
In lieu of the film business falling apart, some people have been saying to write your "fuck it" script. I don't know if that was the inspiration for this one, but it sure looks like 100 percent, pure "fuck it" to me. Which is a good thing.
November 12, 2025 at 6:35 PM
In lieu of the film business falling apart, some people have been saying to write your "fuck it" script. I don't know if that was the inspiration for this one, but it sure looks like 100 percent, pure "fuck it" to me. Which is a good thing.
After years of trying (and mostly failing) to write more short stories, I stumbled on DeadlinesForWriters.com and decided to try their 12 stories in 12 months challenge. And I did it! I'm a sucker for a prompt and a good old-fashioned deadline and this totally worked for me. Give it a try!
November 12, 2025 at 5:20 PM
After years of trying (and mostly failing) to write more short stories, I stumbled on DeadlinesForWriters.com and decided to try their 12 stories in 12 months challenge. And I did it! I'm a sucker for a prompt and a good old-fashioned deadline and this totally worked for me. Give it a try!
Just finished When We Were Real by @darylwriterguy.bsky.social. I loved this so much. It's warm, funny, and emotional. Bursting with amazing sci-fi ideas but always keeps its humanity front and center. It's one of those rare books that I can't wait to read again.
November 7, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Just finished When We Were Real by @darylwriterguy.bsky.social. I loved this so much. It's warm, funny, and emotional. Bursting with amazing sci-fi ideas but always keeps its humanity front and center. It's one of those rare books that I can't wait to read again.
Cool project with big stars just announced that's described as a "dark comic crime thriller" which is 1) one of my favorite genres to write and 2) a genre guaranteed to make my reps say "please don't write that, it never sells." So yeah, this business makes no sense. Ever.
November 6, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Cool project with big stars just announced that's described as a "dark comic crime thriller" which is 1) one of my favorite genres to write and 2) a genre guaranteed to make my reps say "please don't write that, it never sells." So yeah, this business makes no sense. Ever.
I didn't publish a single short story last year. All of a sudden, I've had four acceptances since September. What changed? My strategy. More here: bobderosawriter.substack.com/p/strategy
Strategy
Sometimes writing is about being inspired. Sometimes not.
bobderosawriter.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I didn't publish a single short story last year. All of a sudden, I've had four acceptances since September. What changed? My strategy. More here: bobderosawriter.substack.com/p/strategy
100% this. I've been in a screenwriting group with roughly the same gang for over 15 years. We've seen each other through big wins and huge losses and everything in between. This journey is way too hard to do it alone. Community is everything. #scriptsky
You know what separates writers who break in from equally talented writers who don't? A small circle of peers who gave brutally honest notes, celebrated tiny victories, and kept them going when quitting felt easier. Cultivating those relationships deserves as much focus as writing your next script.
November 5, 2025 at 7:42 PM
100% this. I've been in a screenwriting group with roughly the same gang for over 15 years. We've seen each other through big wins and huge losses and everything in between. This journey is way too hard to do it alone. Community is everything. #scriptsky
Great interview with novelist/screenwriter @ajagabel.bsky.social in Hollywood Reporter today and this quote captures a lot of what's making our writing lives miserable lately: "Every industry is in a place where people are very afraid of not doing the thing that is going to be the most popular."
November 4, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Great interview with novelist/screenwriter @ajagabel.bsky.social in Hollywood Reporter today and this quote captures a lot of what's making our writing lives miserable lately: "Every industry is in a place where people are very afraid of not doing the thing that is going to be the most popular."
People who vote get kisses! DO IT!
November 4, 2025 at 8:19 PM
People who vote get kisses! DO IT!
This is an incredible post. Ally writes about money and financial planning, but this one speaks to whatever type of work you do, including being a freelance creative. "Most of what you try won’t work, but staying in motion creates the conditions for luck to find you."
Most of us get stuck because we’re waiting for something, whether it's the right contact or the right timing. But progress doesn’t come from waiting. It comes from motion.
Stop Waiting for Permission: Career Lessons From My 20s
Building your ideal career takes time, well-written emails, and a lot of luck.
moneychangeseverything.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:33 PM
This is an incredible post. Ally writes about money and financial planning, but this one speaks to whatever type of work you do, including being a freelance creative. "Most of what you try won’t work, but staying in motion creates the conditions for luck to find you."
You get all kinds of notes as a screenwriter. The ones that drive me up the wall are basically, "I like this idea but wish you'd written a different movie." This is a close notes cousin of "Here's the movie I woulda written." You get these from reps, execs, producers. Lots of people who don't write.
November 4, 2025 at 12:18 AM
You get all kinds of notes as a screenwriter. The ones that drive me up the wall are basically, "I like this idea but wish you'd written a different movie." This is a close notes cousin of "Here's the movie I woulda written." You get these from reps, execs, producers. Lots of people who don't write.
I usually write speculative fiction, but sometimes it's fun to write a dark lil crime story. Excited to share that this one is online now at Guilty Crime Mag: www.guiltycrimemag.com/flash/bad-bu...
Bad Business by Bob DeRosa
I knocked on Jessie’s door at exactly two in the morning, ready to propose some bad business. It took him a while to answer. He didn’t ask who it was, just opened the door and asked what was up....
www.guiltycrimemag.com
November 2, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I usually write speculative fiction, but sometimes it's fun to write a dark lil crime story. Excited to share that this one is online now at Guilty Crime Mag: www.guiltycrimemag.com/flash/bad-bu...
This is a message I can get behind.
Create create create. It’s the only way to jam the death signal.
November 1, 2025 at 10:47 PM
This is a message I can get behind.
Our local food bank does wonderful work in case you're looking for someplace to donate a few bucks to help others: nhifp.org
North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry
The North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry is a religiously diverse 501c3 non-profit community that strives to meet the needs of those living with food insecurity.
nhifp.org
November 1, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Our local food bank does wonderful work in case you're looking for someplace to donate a few bucks to help others: nhifp.org
VIDEO PALACE was the first narrative podcast from SHUDDER. I co-wrote this horror/mystery audio show with @benrock.com (who also directed) and it was truly one of the best creative experiences I've ever had in this town. Perfect listening for scary season! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/v...
Video Palace
Drama Podcast · Series · When video collector Mark Cambria watches a mysterious VHS tape, he begins talking in his sleep in a language that doesn't exist. Mark and his girlfriend Tamra set out to inve...
podcasts.apple.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:43 PM
VIDEO PALACE was the first narrative podcast from SHUDDER. I co-wrote this horror/mystery audio show with @benrock.com (who also directed) and it was truly one of the best creative experiences I've ever had in this town. Perfect listening for scary season! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/v...
Really enjoyed this collection of dark tales from @christinogle.bsky.social!
October 30, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Really enjoyed this collection of dark tales from @christinogle.bsky.social!
On a recent @pastduepodcast.com, @mike-eagle.bsky.social was talking about how Hollywood success is like riding a rollercoaster except, "Damn, is there a way I could do this without having it shit in my heart on the way down?" and I'm gonna be thinking about that quote for the rest of my life.
October 30, 2025 at 12:03 AM
On a recent @pastduepodcast.com, @mike-eagle.bsky.social was talking about how Hollywood success is like riding a rollercoaster except, "Damn, is there a way I could do this without having it shit in my heart on the way down?" and I'm gonna be thinking about that quote for the rest of my life.
So very excited to share a new short story of mine published in a spooky edition of The Genre Society! What if your answers to a Resort Satisfaction Questionnaire indicated some sort of terrifying outbreak was happening during your stay? Check it out on page 28!
pub.marq.com/9099fd67-731...
pub.marq.com/9099fd67-731...
The Genre Society: Issue 6
pub.marq.com
October 25, 2025 at 9:06 PM
So very excited to share a new short story of mine published in a spooky edition of The Genre Society! What if your answers to a Resort Satisfaction Questionnaire indicated some sort of terrifying outbreak was happening during your stay? Check it out on page 28!
pub.marq.com/9099fd67-731...
pub.marq.com/9099fd67-731...