Thanks for posting the link. When I wrote that I didn’t have any money to spend, it was slightly exaggerated. It was just to see what one would do, if there wasn’t any cash involved

I’ll let you know how it goes. Presently, I need to rewrite everything. The story is there, and so is the major lines, but it’s the detail, how to execute the plots and dialogue, that needs special attention now. Maybe you’d like to read it some time?

Yes, we did contact the support, but so far I don’t know if it’s been solved. I’m not the one talking with them (we’re a small team working together, reading, commenting and learning), so I really can’t say for sure if there’s been any breakthrough. I suspect that it was the download that went wrong somehow.

Kind Regards,
Lars

Once you get the list, check out their websites and then contact your top 2 or 3 choices. Pick readers who are currently reading for real producers and studios…not someone who used to be a professional reader. You want someone who has their finger on the pulse of what studios are looking at RIGHT NOW.

From there, ask for references. It’s important to follow up with fellow writers, but make sure you ask the right questions: how detailed was the analysis? Was the reader clear? Was the reader available to talk through any notes? What DIDN’T they like about the analysis? When the script finally went out, did the writer get back comments that jived with the readers notes? You don’t want to hire a reader who gave notes to a writer who followed them, only to discover that agents/producers/studios disagreed with the changes.

Not having money to spend is a big problem, however it’s the cost of doing business. The important thing is spend the money on the right person. As with many things, even after you do your due diligence you might hire someone whose taste and ideas you don’t agree with. Sadly, that’s ALSO the cost of doing business.

Please let me know how it goes! As far as Contour not installing, have you contacted Mariner support? They’re really good over there at fixing stuff like this.

JEFF

My little team and I have purchased Contour on the release date (it fails to install for some reason though). This blog is a tough cookie, but I believe that you are right about being picky with who reads your work, and the tough bit is, that it could mean you’d have to pay for it. I don’t suppose we would have to like it, but it’s probably the nature of the beast. I could use a better comparison to finding a talented reader than the doctor example though, as we have universal free health care in my country, but that’s a bit besides the point, since I see what you mean.

I think the thing I’m getting at is, how should I go about finding the right reader? How can I tell the good ones from the bad ones? How much is too much and how on Earth am I going to go about it, when I don’t have money to spend?

I’m currently in the first rewrite phase of my first script, while writing a first draft of a second, so ultimately, it would be nice to know how to spot adequate readers.