tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post2167070497803493852..comments2024-03-07T20:15:45.996-08:00Comments on The Bitter Script Reader: My process for reacting to feedbackThe Bitter Script Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575166527272639709noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-8400103573267754282013-08-06T11:25:41.133-07:002013-08-06T11:25:41.133-07:00Great, thoughtful post. Staging out the reads (hav...Great, thoughtful post. Staging out the reads (having a tiered process for reads, to maximize the benefits of feedback) is a great strategy -- much stronger than just getting everyone to read at the same time. <br /><br />I was listening to an interview with a very established (non-fiction) author who offered this nugget on how to digest feedback from reads: "if someone loves it, then I leave it in. But I need multiple people to hate it in order to take it out." <br /><br />I don't think this applies with scripts, but it's an interesting idea, the ratio between "delight" and "hate."Chris Minghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06998825867463838768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-88872512840364520932013-08-05T11:44:31.271-07:002013-08-05T11:44:31.271-07:00i've enjoyed reading your blog, you're jus...i've enjoyed reading your blog, you're just a level headed guy, who at times raises the axe, but mostly you like a duck, you let the water roll off your back, only way to be in your position.<br /><br />Now to the article, we have a kind of quebert system, since i read so many scripts from people i have dozens of readers, those readers get different drafts, and they all help. while the notes may not be specific exactly, things they didn't like, or believe or care about they tell you and as the writer you can back track and figure out how to make them feel for a character, so the payoffs don't fall flat. or add more information to the popcorn trail that leads to the reveal, so they can get invested more with it so when you do reveal it, it has the intended effect the writer wanted to solicit.<br /><br />With me, i've always said less, always, my early drafts are cryptic, while i think the audience knows what's happening, they really don't, and there are so many questions -- so i re-engineer the script and i find which scenes need to be clarified, etc... then like you do, i send it to the second tier of readers, which, oddly enough changes, sometimes i switch it up, but at the end i send it to the scriptmechanic, and for 100 bucks i know where i stand. then i send it to some high-end people and they break my heart.<br /><br />other than that, for people who want to get feedback, READ OTHER PEOPLES scripts, figure out who is smart, who isn't, email the smart ones. <br /><br />Great blog. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04513325599318764316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-42135787671240292192013-08-05T11:40:04.610-07:002013-08-05T11:40:04.610-07:00Hey Henry hope I'm not out of line posting thi...Hey Henry hope I'm not out of line posting this here but I have a free online writing group if you'd like to check it out. You can contact me at Twitter@rdllnAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01175985544002285736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-48142721237498149672013-08-05T10:47:02.781-07:002013-08-05T10:47:02.781-07:00Cool post. Didn't realize you were so active ...Cool post. Didn't realize you were so active as a writer. Really like your approach of using two groups. You're truely blessed, as I don't have anything like that up here in Bonney Lake, Washington. Just a guy in LA I pay to read my stuff. Haven't found a circle of friends -- let alone two to read my stuff and give me good notes. I just have to "wing it" and go with my guts.<br /><br />Sounds like you're close on this one, Bitter. Hopefully someone will like your latest script and you'll get some screenwriting credits to your name. Then maybe you can lose the prefacing adjective, "bitter", and replace it with something more of sunny day feel to it, like say now addressing yourself as, "The Happy Script Reader." Amazing what one key breakthrough can do to get you to see yourself in a different light. Hope you get that breakthrough ;)E.C. Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10748007729066148300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-74775229607403779582013-08-05T07:23:24.430-07:002013-08-05T07:23:24.430-07:00Another great column, especially the sound advice ...Another great column, especially the sound advice of "I have to write a script good enough to be loved by people who aren't prepared to love it."<br /><br />As much as I enjoy getting positive feedback, I've gotten into the habit of skimming over it and focusing on the negative/constructive criticism.<br /><br />I don't necessarily disagree with what the person is saying, but rather try to read it from their point of view. Do their suggestions have merit?<br /><br />I can pick and choose what I use, but it all comes down to wanting to make the script as solid as possible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-71868645000899076612013-08-05T05:01:30.704-07:002013-08-05T05:01:30.704-07:00Excellent post, thanks. Also interesting to see ho...Excellent post, thanks. Also interesting to see how you, the reader, react to other people reading your scripts. <br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03634149342356381229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-71935713066489263712013-08-05T01:54:45.552-07:002013-08-05T01:54:45.552-07:00Must be fantastic to have such depth of readers av...Must be fantastic to have such depth of readers available to you, always interests me that however 'ready' a writer feels the work is. There is always another spin to be had.<br /><br />Thanks for the insight Zuul.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15180520342079092313noreply@blogger.com