INT. J ROLAND KELLY - NIGHT

California might be the entertainment capital of the world, but why must you choose to hole yourself up to write your first selling on spec screenplay there?

Los Angeles is way too expensive, and dirty for just sitting around.

You might have access to other screenwriters, but even that is part of the problem.

If you are an un-showered, unsuccessful screenwriter in LA sitting around in an apartment, you are just another an un-showered, unsuccessful screenwriter in LA sitting around in an apartment.

You’re probably burning through money (if you are trying to write full time), and good luck with the ladies.

Why learn your craft there?

Someone suggested to me (hey, Tim) that this is the reason that writers are so nervy; even if a writer becomes fairly successful, they’ve had so many years of rejection that they can’t take pride in their decent success and are always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Don’t live like that.

Come to Quito, sweetheart.

While you are writing, or learning to write, or reading books about how to write, there’s no reason you can’t be living in a new and all-out positive atmosphere.

You might even find the inspiration necessary to finish your project. Even that. 

You can probably live a couple of months on what you pay for one month’s rent in Los Angeles.

The buy-in is the plane ticket. LA and Quito are not that far apart just one connection. My ticket was $550 from San Francisco. After that it’s ten dollars a day if you just sit around and write.

Here are some pictures of my $165 dollar a month hotel room in old historic section of Quito (Old Town, El Centro).

 View from the balcony.

From the lobby.

I’m not saying it’s the best room for the cash, it was sort of the first one. I liked the view, the balcony, the section of town, I stayed for one night, checked around a little and then threw down for the month.

I think it’s a perfect writing cell, and I’ve always wanted to live in a hotel.

I figure it’s possible to live on $300 a month if you don’t do touristy things and drink in bars, etc.

Of course I will do all of those things, I’m just saying $300 bucks is the base price if you were super commented to only writing while you were here.

I will try and compile a Quito price sheet for the next post.

- J Roland Kelly