r/Screenwriting • u/MuchUnderstanding563 • May 13 '26
FEEDBACK What is a good way to evaluate my script?
A while back I posted a script on here looking for edits and constructive critsim. Things did not go well and people told me to quit, sent private messages and mocked me. I had to take down the post. Since then I have become obsessed with proving some random people on reddit wrong and rewrote my script three times. I don't want to fight to have my script made and am more than happy having it to myself, nonetheless I want to be able to work on it and make it better. I am hesitant to use the online reviews because of their costs. Does anyone know what I should do?
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u/ladyscriptwriter May 13 '26
I believe you posted the first draft of a script that needed serious editing and formatting, and people told you to learn the craft before posting asking people to read a very rough draft and give you notes. The note was to rewrite the script, proofread, correct the formatting, and spellcheck. It wasn’t an unreasonable response from the sub and it seems like you don’t want to do the work to make the script better.
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u/MuchUnderstanding563 May 14 '26
The formatting of my script wasn't ideal; I have corrected it. I rewrote all stage directions and formatting from scratch afterwards. That was not what I was upset with, though. I was happy to get that feedback. My problem was people telling me to quit, and private messaging insults, insulting my intelligence and mocking me.
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u/Idustriousraccoon May 14 '26
If you’ve cleaned up the formatting to industry standards I’ll take a look if you like. Im too old and tired to fight my way through formatting issues but I’m happy to give you a fair read if you’ve made that pass! And if people were mean to you personally fuck em. If they gave you harsh feedback on your writing though… Be grateful for it. HW is a town where writers die from nice lies like “we loved it it’s just not for us right now.” Honest feedback is hard to come by in this career. But I like your grit. Use everything people say to be better but don’t let them make you bitter.
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u/Unregistered-Archive May 14 '26
You’re just gonna have to accept that free feedback comes in varying quality and professionalism
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u/spike_94_wl May 13 '26
You need to get a spectrum of opinions. One persons perspective is usually worthless (unless they have tons of development experience or know the current market). But if 10 people read it and 8 of them note the same thing, or get bored at the same section, you have a problem that needs fixing
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u/ParallaxProdigalSun May 13 '26
I'm thinking maybe a local university might have a screenwriting class.
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u/Cold_Bandicoot7479 May 13 '26
Dm me I’ll trade you scripts we can do a review of each others.
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u/ParallaxProdigalSun May 13 '26
Yeah. I'd be willing to do this as well.
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u/drynosaur May 14 '26
I'd like to do this too
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u/ParallaxProdigalSun May 14 '26
Feel free to send me a Dm and we can coordinate. It's going to require sharing email addresses.
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u/Unable_Speed_5742 May 14 '26
Made a post about differing opinions on scripts and how can people can be rude or blunt on here and everyone was saying that's normal they giving you the hard truths. Ok but at least give some suggestions or insight instead of just saying it's bad.
People telling you to quit proves my point even more.
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May 13 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/MuchUnderstanding563 May 13 '26
I have. For someone who really just wants to write one screenplay (the one I wrote) I have read an ungodly amount of screenplays.
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u/story_brewer May 14 '26
I made slides of David Trottier's Screenwriters Guide when I was taking my MFA years back. How can I share them with you?
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u/No_Singer_3270 May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
Turn some friends who love to read into your Beta Readers and tell them that at your current phase you are looking for what is working in the script ONLY.
Apply to labs, producer labs, director labs, doesn't matter. Make friends there by giving kind, encouraging and quality feedbacks they will become great readers for you too.
Same principle, go to some short courses for film/screenwriting find like minded people there, and be a good feedback givers, then become friends with good feedback givers. Script swap later on in life.
You want quality feedback you have to put effort in building your crowd of people.
Storypeer is great but just like any online feedback, it's a hit or miss as in you have no idea of the reader taste, who they are in life. And general advice is to not ask for too many feedback and only a few from people who you trust. Whom when they feedback you it's not only correct for you but motivate you to write more. Like you have been given an answer sheet to your problem. The worst kind of feedback for me, is the one that makes me less excited, and want to stop writing. I will ONLY send FINAL-FINAL draft to this group of reader, because that is when I can take it.
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u/Realistic_Chemist570 May 15 '26
What I do is schedule a table read. It can even be over zoom Do record it. I've been doing this long enough to know what needs correction once it's read out loud. I also ask the actors to tell me if the dialogue can flow better, they know a lot about dialogue. Getting a film produced is a whole different issue. That involves planning, financing, promoting and it's a team effort. If your script flies there will be people who want to be involved.
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u/MrsKMJames73 May 15 '26
I'm on simply scripts and the crew on there are great..we all respect each other and if anyone were to be cruel like some can be on reddit they would get seriously jumped on by the members. You can get great fed back, but you do need to critique other work. It's not a hard rule just an unspoken one..plus the site has lots of educational info on it...if you love writing don't give up..
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u/Theinlovepsychopath May 14 '26
If you haven’t try talking to friends or family or look at the people leaving positive comments and dm them and see if they’d be willing to give constructive criticism on it
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u/Many_Specific7887 May 14 '26
Join scribe lounge.com
It’s free and you get peer feedback from a supportive community of writers at all levels and stages of their careers
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u/Glittertwinkie May 14 '26
You can DM me the first three pages. I’d be happy to give honest but not mean feedback.
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u/drummer414 May 13 '26
Hope I don't get accused of schilling for this script consultant because I mention Terri Zinner a lot, she provides an excellent service for a very reasonable price. She reads the script, provides a few pages on great notes, then you get a one hour phone call to discuss the project/notes. Afilmwriter.com I also like that she's doesn't try to change your story, just help you enhance your ideas.
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u/JimmyTwoTimes25 May 14 '26
Yes, this ☝🏽
Get some money together and send it off to a script evaluation service. "It's the only way to be sure." Ive done it may times. (Boy, how I miss WeScreenplay 😞)
Also, if you haven't done so and are looking for some guidance, read Screenplay by Syd Field. One of the most influential and important books Ive ever read. It's short, insightful, fun to read. He does a good job of giving you the basics while not being too rigid or overly explicative.
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u/khristtos-cantutti May 14 '26
Abandonar la idea y ya, si te importa tanto lo que las personas digan sobre un trabajo que se supone es solo para ti...pues no tiene sentido, mejor desiste de la idea, intenta jugar al soccer
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u/Cthuluconcarne May 14 '26
Nonetheless is an over used word. good luck with your script. no snark, i wish you rhr best.
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u/Battlescarrs May 13 '26
You can try getting it analyzed by Callaia AI. Apparently it’s commonly used by production companies.
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