Email me at aspiringwriterblog at gmail dot com for more info!
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I have been a professional reader since 2008. I currently write coverage for production companies and a sales/distribution company; I've also written coverage for contests, coverage services and the agency I used to be an assistant at. Through this blog, I've also provided notes for over 200 private clients.
Lots of coverage services exist - and you're right to be skeptical of them. I hope you guys understand that I'm not some scam artist looking to make millions off this little business. I'm simply offering the same kinds of insight that I already give production companies. I am currently working on a paid screenwriting assignment, but I'm not yet able to make my entire living from screenwriting alone. When I am, I'll probably discontinue this business and replace my 1997 Honda Civic (though I love its glued-shut sunroof and broken cassette player). In the meantime, here are my rates:
half-hour spec or pilot: $75
one-hour spec or pilot: $90
feature: $110
Readers generally make $50-70 on regular coverage for production companies and the like. My notes service rates are a bit higher because my notes are a bit different; I'm not giving you a formal synopsis (I can never understand why writers want synopses of their own work) and a couple paragraphs of comments, but instead several pages of page-specific suggestions of where problems lie and how I think you can fix these problems, depending on what you're aiming for. I'm very meticulous, down to grammar and formatting mistakes. These notes take me longer than basic comments for coverage.
Discounts:
- If you send a second script, you'll get $5 off.
- If you refer a friend, you'll get $5 off a future script - just tell your pal to mention your name when s/he emails me.
You can compare these prices with Alex Epstein, who charges $600 for TV and $850 for features, or Jen Grisanti, who charges $350-500 for TV and $550-950 for features. I'm sure they give great feedback...but that's a lot of money.
What you'll get from me: three to seven pages of single-spaced notes addressing the structure, plot, characters, dialogue, format, commercial viability and writing style/voice of your script. I'm happy to focus on any specific aspect of the script that you're concerned about - or do a cold read. I'll also recommend any relevant scripts I think you should read or shows/films I think you should watch. Turnaround time is one week from when I receive payment. If you need immediate help for some kind of deadline, we can talk about an additional fee. Also - if you're not sure if I'm familiar with a show you're speccing, feel free to email and ask. I can also provide samples of notes I've given in your genre if you're curious about what you might get. Note: I accept all genres (and get assigned to read all genres), but I consider myself an expert in comedy, romantic comedy and TV sitcoms.
If you'd like to get notes on your TV or film scripts - or if you have any questions, email me at aspiringwriterblog at gmail dot com . I will send you a release form to sign and will bill you through PayPal so you can pay via credit card, bank account, etc.
Here are some comments from writers who have used my notes service:
"Amanda's script consult led eventually to an award from Nickelodeon for my Modern Family spec!" -Amisha
"Amanda helped me with an Office spec a while back which I submitted to the Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship and I just got the call today that I'm a semi-finalist!" - Jon
"Amanda read and gave notes on a half-hour TV spec pilot I wrote. Amanda's notes were smart, constructive and detailed which helped in the finessing of the script. The script has now been optioned by a UK TV production company who work a lot with the BBC." - Kevin L
"Amanda gave me notes on my drama pilot script and also gave me a nudge when I was debating whether to submit to the NYTVF NBC pilot contest. I submitted and we made it to the finalist round! Amanda's feedback was extremely helpful." - Wesley H
"Amanda provided great insight into how to improve my Parenthood spec. Amanda’s feedback focused on the structure of the script, which character’s voices sounded right on (and which sounded “iffy”) down to individual lines, and how I might thematically tighten my script. The feedback was always constructive, and kept me inspired to continue working on and improving my script!" - Brett
"Amanda is an incredible reader. Her insight into my script was original and compelling. In fact, I just optioned it to a prominent production company. So use her!" - Tony D
"I thought Amanda's notes on my comedy feature were really specific, clear, and useful. Well worth the money." -Eric G
"Amanda gave me excellent script coverage with my Law and Order: Criminal Intent spec. She praised the positive aspects while giving me constructive feedback about the parts of my script that weren't working without hurting my feelings or making me feel stupid--and as a sensitive person, I admire someone who can do that. She not only gave me advice on the overall structure of the script but helped me with nit-picky details that many other readers might have overlooked. I spent several hundred dollars on feedback from so-called "professional scriptwriting services" but won't make that same mistake in the future--I got better quality script notes and advice from Amanda." - Sarah M
"Amanda's critique was insightful and specific. She helped me tighten the structure of my BONES spec immensely and provided a window into how industry insiders would see my script." -Rebecca S
"Amanda put into perspective everything that was weak about our feature script, but in a very positive and constructive way. With every criticism came a helpful suggestion. She is a genius script doctor and her diagnosis was the perfect cure for our story. She definitely knows the anatomy of a script and is a very valuable resource." -John L and Ishira K
"Very helpful. I will recommend you for sure!" -Jodi L
"Amanda hit on some specific areas I was already wondering about and pointed out several new ones. They were very insightful and specific right down to the page numbers!" -Jon C
What you'll get from me: three to seven pages of single-spaced notes addressing the structure, plot, characters, dialogue, format, commercial viability and writing style/voice of your script. I'm happy to focus on any specific aspect of the script that you're concerned about - or do a cold read. I'll also recommend any relevant scripts I think you should read or shows/films I think you should watch. Turnaround time is one week from when I receive payment. If you need immediate help for some kind of deadline, we can talk about an additional fee. Also - if you're not sure if I'm familiar with a show you're speccing, feel free to email and ask. I can also provide samples of notes I've given in your genre if you're curious about what you might get. Note: I accept all genres (and get assigned to read all genres), but I consider myself an expert in comedy, romantic comedy and TV sitcoms.
If you'd like to get notes on your TV or film scripts - or if you have any questions, email me at aspiringwriterblog at gmail dot com . I will send you a release form to sign and will bill you through PayPal so you can pay via credit card, bank account, etc.
Here are some comments from writers who have used my notes service:
"Amanda's script consult led eventually to an award from Nickelodeon for my Modern Family spec!" -Amisha
"Amanda helped me with an Office spec a while back which I submitted to the Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship and I just got the call today that I'm a semi-finalist!" - Jon
"Amanda read and gave notes on a half-hour TV spec pilot I wrote. Amanda's notes were smart, constructive and detailed which helped in the finessing of the script. The script has now been optioned by a UK TV production company who work a lot with the BBC." - Kevin L
"Amanda gave me notes on my drama pilot script and also gave me a nudge when I was debating whether to submit to the NYTVF NBC pilot contest. I submitted and we made it to the finalist round! Amanda's feedback was extremely helpful." - Wesley H
"Amanda provided great insight into how to improve my Parenthood spec. Amanda’s feedback focused on the structure of the script, which character’s voices sounded right on (and which sounded “iffy”) down to individual lines, and how I might thematically tighten my script. The feedback was always constructive, and kept me inspired to continue working on and improving my script!" - Brett
"Amanda is an incredible reader. Her insight into my script was original and compelling. In fact, I just optioned it to a prominent production company. So use her!" - Tony D
"I thought Amanda's notes on my comedy feature were really specific, clear, and useful. Well worth the money." -Eric G
"Amanda gave me excellent script coverage with my Law and Order: Criminal Intent spec. She praised the positive aspects while giving me constructive feedback about the parts of my script that weren't working without hurting my feelings or making me feel stupid--and as a sensitive person, I admire someone who can do that. She not only gave me advice on the overall structure of the script but helped me with nit-picky details that many other readers might have overlooked. I spent several hundred dollars on feedback from so-called "professional scriptwriting services" but won't make that same mistake in the future--I got better quality script notes and advice from Amanda." - Sarah M
"Amanda's critique was insightful and specific. She helped me tighten the structure of my BONES spec immensely and provided a window into how industry insiders would see my script." -Rebecca S
"Amanda put into perspective everything that was weak about our feature script, but in a very positive and constructive way. With every criticism came a helpful suggestion. She is a genius script doctor and her diagnosis was the perfect cure for our story. She definitely knows the anatomy of a script and is a very valuable resource." -John L and Ishira K
"Very helpful. I will recommend you for sure!" -Jodi L
"Amanda hit on some specific areas I was already wondering about and pointed out several new ones. They were very insightful and specific right down to the page numbers!" -Jon C
5 comments:
Amanda the aspiring script consultant.
Wow, that's great! It's kind of like getting on-the-job training as an Executive Producer. Aaron Spelling's job was to read the script each week and give notes to make it better!
Amanda gave me script coverage last summer and it was very helpful! Quick turn around and great insight! Thanks again :)
I condone Amanda and her script reading abilities.
Did you piss off Jared in some way or his analysis is based on professional experience?
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