Screenplay Development Notes

"As a professional screenwriter, I rarely, if ever, receive the kind of extensive feedback offered in these notes. The detail and scrutiny are well appreciated. I also teach graduate level screenwriting, and in the past, have not known how to respond when students have asked about submitting their work for this kind of critique. I will now feel confident in sharing my very positive experience and will not be reticent in suggesting that your service may prove very helpful."– Jeanne Rosenberg (Screenwriter, The Black Stallion, White Fang)

Polish your screenplay with a professional analysis!

You've passed your script around to your buddies. You've let your mom take a look at it. Maybe you've even brought it to a writer's group. While feedback from friends and family is great, it simply can't compare to an unbiased critique from a seasoned professional.

Discover the difference an expert reading of your script makes with Screenplay Development Notes, directly from readers currently working in the Industry!

Honest and insightful, our readers have years of experience working for high-profile producers, production companies and screenwriting contests, and are trained to spot exactly what the studios seek in a spec script.

With our Screenplay Development Notes, you get invaluable feedback on your Feature Film, Movie-of-the-Week or Television script, in a format that mirrors the same process occurring in the studio ranks.

The comprehensive Development Notes package includes:

• A graph-based Emotional Response chart
• 8 pages of detailed notes on Premise, Plot Structure, Pacing, Characters, Dialogue and Marketability
• A rating on the "Pass, Consider, or Recommend" scale
• An Industry-standard logline
• A one-page synopsis to use as a "leave behind" when you get that all-important pitch meeting

To really get your script in fighting shape, add one-on-one Screenwriting Coaching from the Story Specialists to your order to put the feedback you get from our studio readers into action. 

With this package, available to add to your cart at right, you get Development Notes from a professional reader, then the opportunity to take these notes and your script to one of our Story Specialists, who will go over the reader’s input with you, and help you fix your script and get it to a saleable level.

To get started simply:

• Add this item to your cart (and the Screenwriting Coaching from the Story Specialists, if desired) and proceed through checkout.
• Read the document titled “Important-Instructions-Regarding-Your-Development-Notes”, which will be presented on the Order Completion page. You may also access this document from your Order History page within your account.
• Send your project to our team for an expert analysis.

Creative Screenwriting magazine gives The Writers Store's Development Notes a perfect 5.0 score in their Independent Survey.

Confidentiality
All employees of The Writers Store, Inc. have signed a stringent and comprehensive non-disclosure and confidentiality agreement. You can rest assured that your material and conversations will not be shared with anyone.

As an additional measure of protection for both you and your Story Specialist we highly recommend registering your work with The Writers Guild of America and/or the U.S. Copyright office.

If you have any questions, please call a Story Specialist at 800 272-8927.

See what your notes will look like!

Here is a sample page of what The Writers Store very own Emotional Response Chart looks like:

Some Of Our Fans:

“I just wanted to thank you again for another review and more great feedback! I have always thought that the fastest way to learn how to do something is to do it - and that is certainly the case here. It is totally apparent that this is my first attempt at writing a script, and I am very happy to get a PASS on both of the reviews, simply because the information that I get is greatly beneficial for this learning process. I actually get EXCITED to learn from all of these mistakes and how to fix them! I love it! This is a great experience for me and I thank you very much for the education!” – Laura W.

“[The notes] are absolutely amazing and encouraging. I am surprised how deep enough the analysts think. When I was in the development stages of my screenplay I was confused as to which path to take, A or B, and I took path A. The writers mentioned the alternate path to take even though I have never discussed anything with them - in fact I’ve never had any sort of contact with them” – Deep T.

“I was braced for complete disaster when I submitted my screenplay so obviously I was delighted to hear some positive comments! More importantly, I was so grateful that my reader took the time to read and think about my screenplay so carefully. The suggestions and insights I was given were enormously helpful. Honestly, I am amazed at how easy it was to just pay a few beans, and wait just a few days, in order to learn so much so quickly. I’m a little bit in awe of the whole thing. Great fun.” – Sue S.

“WOW, WOW.... Brittany and I really are appreciative and impressed with the notes we got back on Riding With Molly! The coverage person provided us with excellent suggestions, insights & guidance. We just love the way the person committed to going into the story and the sincerity and honesty in which they responded. I could say more, but time to get to work on improving the script.” – Marty C.

“First off I have to say I greatly appreciated the notes. I’ve been working on a list of things I wanted to see happen and change in the script and everything that was written in the notes just validated that I should go in the direction I wanted to. It’s beyond refreshing to have someone break it down on a level where they understand what is going on just as much as I do. I never took any note as criticism, all constructive and motivating. In the end, I’m extremely delighted, humbled, motivated, and challenged by what was written.” – Curtis S.

“Thank you so much for the development notes for my TV movie “Crowded by Christmas.” The notes were so encouraging and extremely helpful. I really like the script but knew something was missing but couldn’t put my finger on it. You nailed it - specifically the need to “raise the stakes” as well as the tweaks in the characters and action in the at home scenes. This was the best $250 I’ve spent.” – Sandy S.

“The development notes were more than I expected and extremely helpful. THANK YOU for the great notes. The service is well worth the price I paid.” – Timothy H.

“I wanted to thank you for your invaluable notes. Our team has looked them over many times. We have taken your insight and are now rewriting our script based on some of your suggestions. This was a great service!!” – Ken S.

“Please pass on my grateful thanks to the person supplying my development notes. They're very constructive and easy to follow. I'm happy that my money was well spent. I will use your service again and recommend it to others.” – Francis C.

“They are great - they're detailed, make perfect sense, and most importantly I get a sense that someone really did sit down with my script and took the time to read and understand it. To me, that's really important when taking on criticism. I also like the emotional response graph - it actually is more valuable than I would have thought. And there's some great revision suggestions in there too - one I'm even kicking myself for not seeing sooner!” – Jason K.

"Receiving a “Recommend” rating from The Writers Store for our screenplay has laid a strong foundation for our career. Whenever we tell a producer or agent about the rating, their attitude changes almost instantly and they become much more receptive to our project. Beyond that, the report and service itself is far beyond anything we have received elsewhere. We won’t even consider going anywhere else." - Dave Merlino and Dustin Sweet, Writers of The Lucky Ones

"Amazing coverage and notes. I couldn't be happier. It was worth every penny and I can't wait to send you guys more of my stuff. Thanks so much. It gives me a lot of confidence knowing I'm on the right track by having such professional feedback." - Tommy, Florida

"I highly recommend the Development Notes Program from the Writers Store. Not only was the service thorough (forcing me to think of things that I previously hadn't considered) but it was also done in a timely manner, by an analyst who fully understands the definition of compassion and the need to give equal consideration to the good and the not so good. Now, I can move forward with confidence, knowing what I excel in and what I need to work on." - Chris, Florida

"Thanks for sending through the notes. They are great - they're detailed, make perfect sense, and most importantly I get a sense that someone really did sit down with my script and took the time to read and understand it. To me, that's really important when taking on criticism. I also like the emotional response graph - it actually is more valuable than I would have thought. And there's some great revision suggestions in there too - one I'm even kicking myself for not seeing sooner!" - Jason, Australia

"I wanted to thank you for your invaluable notes. Our team has looked them over many times. We have taken your insight and are now rewriting our script based on some of your suggestions. This was a great service!!" - Ken, Nashville

"Please pass on my grateful thanks to the person supplying my development notes. They're very constructive and easy to follow. I'm happy that my money was well spent. I will use your service again and recommend it to others." - Francis, France

"It's tough enough getting HONEST, informed feedback. And even when you do, often it comes by itself (i.e. this doesn't work, fix that etc.). But what I appreciate most from The Writers' Store is that criticisms come with possible solutions!" - Jonathan, Palos Verdes Estates

“The coverage specialists at the Writers Store really know their stuff. Not only are they fluent in genre and structure, but they take great care to analyze your material from every angle. The Development Notes my writing partners and I received on our horror/comedy script were a gold mine... money well spent.” - James, Los Angeles

“I've read the report and am absolutely thrilled about it! Unlike many who have attempted to provide notes, this reader clearly read and understood the story. Which is why the notes provided are so bang-on and will improve the story tenfold!” - Jeff, Vancouver BC

“I would like to thank you for your detailed and insightful script notes on my story. The notes were excellent pointing out problems I couldn't quite put my finger on, but knew existed. The flaws with the plot, pacing and character arcs were right on. I have a lot rethinking and much work to do!” - D.N., Los Angeles