Script Consultancy

Drama, fiction, comedy: television, film, stage and radio

I am also available to work for producers and commissioning editors on a freelance basis: please contact me for further details.

Writers: I offer the following services and can adapt the process according to your needs. I normally send a written report by email, and can discuss it with you by email, post or Skype phone call. My intention is to help you achieve your aim: whatever the level of your work – beginner to experienced professional – I will support you in developing your writing through three drafts to bring out your own best qualities and unique voice. You do not have to commit to more than one stage at a time.

I won't promise to ‘fix' your script, to make it irresistible to commissioning editors, or to recommend you to agents or producers, but I will give you sound advice and help you to become the best writer you can be: my commitment is to each author's voice, individual viewpoint and style.

Stage One: Fresh-Eye Read

If you have a manuscript you've been working on for some time, you may benefit from a one-off reading response. Send it to me by email or post, together with notes on any concerns you have about it, and I will read it with a ‘fresh eye' and give you a straightforward written assessment of how it comes over in general, what works, and what I think are problem areas, with suggestions of ways to solve them. If needed, I will guide you regarding the appropriate layout for whatever form you are writing in, and give advice regarding requirements for specific slots such as sitcom or soap.

Television and film templates with industry standard layouts are available free from the BBC Writers' Room: www.bbc/co.uk/writersroom/scriptsmart

Fee: £6 per thousand words of your document

Stage Two: Development

If you wish to continue working with me send your second draft, and I will read it and respond with an overview and detailed notes about what is working well, and what needs further development. I will make specific suggestions for you to use or not as you wish.

Fee: £6 per thousand words of your document

Stage Three: Final Polish

Send me your third draft, and I will respond as before with specific notes on any problem areas remaining. At this point the script should be almost there, and will only need minor work. In my experience three drafts are usually enough to bring a script to its optimum condition. I don't necessarily subscribe to the view that ‘writing is re-writing'; I'd say writing is about getting it right. Sometimes you can get it right first time - but not often!

Fee: £4 per thousand words of your document

If you wish to commit to all three stages at the outset, the overall fee will be £15 per thousand words of your initial document, half being payable at the outset and half on completion.

Treatment Development Package

If you are writing a treatment, eg for a television drama or comedy series, I will ensure that you address all the necessary aspects and help you to write a document and first episode which will fit the expectations of a commissioning editor. You will need to think about the concept, characters, storylines, slot requirements and budget, as well as good presentation and a pilot script.

This can take a lot of thought and discussion, so as well as a minimum of three drafts, I include up to two hours of discussion either on Skype or in person. As treatments vary enormously in length, I charge an overall fee unrelated to the number of words involved.

Fee: £200 per treatment, half payable at the outset and half on completion.