Hi, Kiwi screenwriter from London here :)

[ScriptNurse]

Believe me, I know.

The majority of the 500+ members and countless other visitors to this site are lurking and just trying to soak up what they can and to learn from the trials or others. We could help them more if they would but ask. There's also a very small number that have unrealistic expectations. Most of the active members are writers who are in various stages of struggling with their work. That's me too ... I've just struggled longer than many of you. Trust me, it is often very hard to see the forest for the trees. I'll give you an example:

In the script that's attached here, the opening scene was originally on page 3 and the scene that follows was the original opening. Originally, the hotel lobby scene had a tourist couple come in and bring us into the hotel. Now, the stage is set differently and a main character has replaced the tourists. It's far better now than it was, but it took a retired director to point out the trees right in front of us.

[Bodacea]

Thanks Scriptnurse.

I am not expecting people to read my scripts, I'll only give that out to a few trusted people. In fact I'm awaiting full coverage on my first screenplay as we speak and they'll do all those things you mentioned plus tell me if my story is good or not. But sometimes when you've written something, like a synopsis which generally don't get coverage, you hope it's good before you officially send it out and sometimes it's hard to judge that. 

[ScriptNurse]

Perhaps I can clarify things a bit. You'll get tons to free advice and suggestions on howq to do this or that, but if you are looking for in-depth analysis and critique of a completed script, you're not likely to find it here. Most of the members here have (a) lives and families, (b) their own screenplay projects, and (c) if your work is in an area outside a feature spec script, most will feel that it's outside their expertise to provide a critique.

I have offered to read scripts and when the script is sent, the writer expects ME to rewrite it and return it to them ... edited, language cleaned up, and their bad grammar corrected. I don't do that. I will read scripts and if by the end of the first page or two I can find 10 things wrong, I stop and make careful notes and return the work, telling the writer to correct the mistakes indicated and apply to the entire script and then send it again. I imagine some of the members here will confirm that that's exactly what I do.

The other thing that happens is some people expect me to — in effect — conduct a private class by email to instruct them how to write a screenplay. I don't do that either ... and it's because there are FAR BETTER teachers out there than I.

There are professionals who frequent this site who can assist tremendously with improving one's grammar and writing skills. Cindy Troy at Edited Write can certainly do that. Story development skills are much more difficult to come by and generally costs money.

[padnar]

Sadly this doesn't happen . i posted my script
My Indian Sister for feedback but i never received
any suggestions but still i try .
padma

[Bodacea]

Hi everyone.  I'm so glad I've found a forum like this to test the waters and get encouragement from people. I live in London and basically only have the internet to get any valuable feedback from. Don't get me wrong, I have made a couple of friends read my script and synopsis but mainly they're not interested in reading scripts. Who can blame them? It's not like reading a novel and it takes the unaccustomed some getting use to. So here I am. Hopefully I can get some good advice and share anything that happens with my scripts to you all.