Script Consultancy

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

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.

Producers

I am available for hire as a freelance script consultant at £30 per hour.

Alternatively you can use my Script Development Package on any script you are developing, and I will tailor my reports according to your target audience and production needs.

Script Development Package

E-mail your manuscript to me along with notes detailing any concerns you have about it, and I will give you a straightforward written assessment of how it comes over in general, what works, and what I think are the problem areas. I will include suggestions of ways to solve the problems, and offer guidance on timing, layout or specific slots (eg sitcom or soap, pre- or post-watershed) as needed.

I will support you in rewriting the script through two more drafts: this is normally enough to bring a script to its optimum condition – one to sort out the main issues, and one to polish the minor points. Endless re-writes can dilute a script's best features, so I don't think it's necessarily true that “Writing is re-writing”; I'd say “Writing is getting it right”. You work at your own pace.

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

Total Fee: £20 per thousand words of your document if it is 20,000 words or less

£18 per thousand words of your document if it is over 20,000 words.

The first half of the fee is payable on receipt of my first report, and the second half on completion of my response to your third draft. Should you wish to end the process after my first report you may do so, and only the first half of the fee is payable.