Screenwriters are panicking about Social Media

Actors are being asked for their Instagram handles at auditions. Does the modern-day screenwriter need to be building a presence on social media?

Having a sizable social media following certainly won’t hurt a screenwriter. But the time it takes to build a proper account — with serious engagement, not follow-for-follows — can be a full-time job. The Rock has an entire team for it, and you don’t.

A writer’s ultimate currency is words and time.

Without time, they write less words. Less words equals less material, which means less darts to throw when the moment comes. And it will. Everyone gets lucky once in their life. Even those with family curses.

The real question I’m asking is — does the upside of social media (for writers specifically) outweigh the downside i.e. its ability to suck up hours of your day, and tiny bits of your soul? Are legitimate buyers actually on Twitter? On Instagram? On Youtube? If so, are they on there to talk to a shmuck like you?