Carolyn Bennett Writer/Comic

Cancel Culture: A Ten Minute Play Written: February 2020 By: Carolyn Bennett Characters: Carmen: 65 Jody: 55 David: 65ish Taylor: teenager Time: The present Scene: Hall. A few celebratory helium balloons decorate the space. A tense Carmen places a table cloth on a table, smoothing and fussing with it. Jody enters. Carmen: So? Jody: Nope. Carmen: So we have -- Jody: Nobody. Carman: Nobody? Jody: Nobody. pause Carmen: Nobody? Jody: No .. body. Carmen: Great. Just great. C’mon. There’s got to be somebody. Jody pulls out list and reads Jody: Winston Aaron no.   Carol Abascal, no. Janice Abbate, no. Pauline Abbott, no. Gina Abbruzzese, no, Moza Abbuhl, no -- Carmen: You’re going alphabetically. Jody: I’m going alphabetically. I can go by street address or postal code if you want. Carmen waves Jody off. Her phone rings. Carmen answers. Carmen: Hello it’s Carmen. Oh, it’s you. Yeah, yeah. See y...

  January 13, 2020 . Dear Mother. You've been dead for almost two years and now I can finally get a word in edgewise. It feels strange not hearing your criticism and sarcasm. I have a reservoir of your greatest hits to drawn upon though, so I'll continue being hard on myself in your absence.           You may be pleased to know I've been hired by a non-profit where I've been volunteering. The non-profit is a community support service that helps seniors and persons living with disabilities. I have no kids and have had a good run in the arts, so the lousy pay is not a deterrent. I have enormous respect for the staff, so if I keep my mouth shut and do as I'm told, I should be able to hold down this job for a month or two. A tall order, I am aware. Cautiously yours, Carolyn. January 31, 2020 . Dear Mother: I'm being trained on a client management computer system. The Meals on Wheels (MOW) Supervisor instructs me orally, and ...

My debut novel Please Stand By has been on the shelves for a month and a half now. In that time, I am delighted to say that over 200 books have been sold. Some of you might be thinking “that’s pathetic”. Yes, I know Margaret Atwood’s The Testaments sold over a hundred times that amount, but that’s only because she is an enormous success. I would be embarrassed to be that talented. You may wonder how I’ve managed to sell over 200 books without any publicity. What follows are my ten tips for promoting your debut novel without money, social media posting, or a publicist: 1. Come From a Big Family: My extended family is big, with the mouths to match it. Thank god for catholic guilt. My siblings and their friends have probably snapped up 50% of the books. 2. Cry In Front of Your Audience at Readings : First of all, give readings. Then make sure you cry in front of your audience. Mention having a mysterious illness, or that you are being renovicted. 3. Have Giveaways: ...

            A forensic identification services van blocks the entrance to the gas station. The other entrance has yellow crime scene tape restricting entry. This will not do. I need a slushie and I need it bad. The gas station serves slushies par excellence. That's French for excellent, I think. Anyway, they know me at the gas station, it's just down the street from my place. I am a preferred customer, according to my slushie card that gives me a free slushie after I buy 20.             "Why do you come here, miss? Why don't you have a car?" the chap behind the counter once asked.             "Because, sir, your slushies are a revelation."             He had his back to me while I replied. It was a rhetorical question I realized much later in the day. ...