Ana Marie Cox and Open Mike Eagle

What If You Write 39 Scripts… and It's Still Not Enough?

Added 2025-07-23 10:00:10 +0000 UTC

Bob DeRosa has written 39 screenplays. Ten have made money. Three became movies. One paid for a house. But in this episode of Past Due, he shares what those numbers don’t say about the six-year stretch where nothing sold, the web series that reignited his fire, and what it really means to build a creative life over the long haul.

We talk about the reality behind “breaking in,” the math that never adds up, and why surviving isn’t just about writing—it’s about rekindling your own flame.

Here’s what stuck with us:

There are no shortcuts. Bob’s now on script #39. Most didn’t sell. But each one was a step forward, even the invisible ones.
The cold spells are real. For six years, Bob wrote nonstop without getting paid once. No deals. No heat. Just belief, and a few friends willing to make weird theater.
The paycheck doesn’t equal the passion. His biggest payday came from a studio action movie. His favorite work? A horror-comedy web series he made with borrowed gear and no budget.
You have to light your own fire. When no one’s calling, you still have to create. The only way out is through, and often, you have to write your way out.
Longevity is a choice. Success isn’t one big break. It’s dozens of pivots, small wins, and the decision to keep going when it feels like nobody’s watching.

“When I say I didn’t work for six years, I mean I didn’t make a buck. But I worked my ass off the whole time.” — Bob DeRosa

Why This Matters

This episode is a reality check and a rallying cry. It’s for anyone chasing a creative career that refuses to fit into a neat timeline. Bob’s story reminds us that surviving isn’t a fluke or a failure. It’s a practice. A grind. A decision to bet on yourself even when the industry doesn’t.

🎬 Watch Bob’s web series 20 Seconds to Live: 20secondstolive.com
💬 Follow Bob on Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/bobderosa.bsky.social