A Love Letter To Giving Feedback

I’ve been giving notes on scripts professionally since 2013. While the majority of that time has been spent writing feedback for studios or production companies, it’s the times where I’m able to give notes directly to writers that make me the happiest.

Critically reading a script is a serotonin-releasing activity for me. A draft is a puzzle to be solved, and finding a solution to fix a story problem is a major rush. I imagine it’s what a doctor feels when they figure out what’s wrong with a patient and know exactly how to fix it. Granted, the stakes are much higher for a doctor, but I think it’s an apt comparison. When you read a script with the intention to give notes, you’re making a diagnosis and a prognosis. “Here’s what’s not working and here’s what you could do to change that.”

For me, it’s that second part that’s meaningful. There’s no greater feeling than knowing I have the perfect solution to something that’s not working. It triggers a gratifying feeling of helping others that makes this work fulfilling. Sure, it's not fully altruistic - most of the time I get paid to offer my insights - but I’m also the first person to offer to read a friend’s script, because I genuinely want to help.

I don’t just want to help writers, I want to help anyone who gives notes. The more quality feedback givers there are out there, the better it will be for all creatives. That was a big driver for me starting this blog in the first place, so I’m getting back to that. I know that I have valuable insights to share. I’ve been told by several people that my notes on their script were some of the best they’ve ever received. I don’t say that to brag, but to remind myself of my worth and my desire to share what I know with others.

I’ve struggled somewhat with this because I think of that cynical refrain “those who can’t do, teach.” I never wanted to be seen as a writer who turned to teaching because he couldn’t hack it. But I’ve realized that the premise is flawed. I can be a writer and a teacher. Excelling at one doesn't mean I’ve failed at the other. Prioritizing one doesn’t mean giving up on the other. I have nothing to prove to anyone, anyway. I just want to improve my story comprehension, analysis, understanding of the market, ability to see what the writer is trying to do, etc. And I want to help others do the same. 

To that end, I’m going to be more active with this blog and steer it back to what I know and love to talk about: story development.