If you want to develop as a screenwriter, you need to get feedback on your work from knowledgeable sources. In the industry this is referred to as "getting notes." It’s a part of the writing process at all levels, from TV staff writers getting notes on the episode they wrote from their showrunner to feature writers getting notes on a draft from a producer.

The Benefits of Notes

The primary benefit of getting notes is obvious: they can make your script better. Script readers bring their experience, knowledge, and POV to the table when they give you feedback. They also help identify your blindspots. As a writer you know every nook and cranny of the story and characters, but readers are limited to what you've actually put on the page. You might discover that things that make sense to you aren't clear in the script.

Beyond helping you improve your script, notes are also a crucial way to improve as a writer, especially when you're just starting out. If a note identifies a problem in your script, you can do the work to figure out how to solve that problem. Once you do, you’ve leveled up as a writer and won’t be as likely to make the same mistake again.

It’s also helpful to give notes as well as receive them, because it’s easier to identify issues in other people’s writing than it is in your own. For instance you might notice that the dialog in your friend’s script all sounds the same. You can then take that lesson and apply it to your own scripts, taking care ensure the dialog does not sound all the same.

Notes Can Sting

But just because notes are helpful it doesn't mean that getting them is always a positive experience. Our writing is personal, and criticism can feel like a personal attack. That’s why it’s important when giving notes to do it in a supportive manner. You should still tell the truth, but do it in the spirit of helping the script be the best it can be.

When receiving notes you should be gracious that the person took the time to read your script and think critically about it, particularly if they’re doing it as a favor. If you receive critical notes that you find upsetting, don’t respond right way. Often if you sit with them for a while the emotional response will pass and you’ll be able to engage with the notes rationally and find value.

The Note Behind the Note

It’s important to mention, however, that not all notes are going to be good. Sometimes note-givers will be wrong or misunderstand what you’re trying to do. But that doesn’t mean you should automatically ignore these “bad notes.”

Oftentimes a bad note can indicate an underlying problem in your script that the reader can sense, but not identify or give a remedy for. That is, they can tell that something is wrong, but they don’t know exactly what it is or how to fix it. This means that the note or suggestion they give will come across as misguided.

When this happens and you’re given a suggestion that seems wrong, try to step back and figure out why the reader gave this note. It’s possible that they’re just completely off-base, but there’s a chance that there is an underlying issue that you need to identify and rectify.

Notes in Arc Studio

Arc Studio Screenwriting software makes it easy to get notes on your script. You can share read-only drafts with readers so they can comment directly on your script without being able to edit it. Comments can be tagged, sorted, and resolved when you've finished with the note.