Hired Wrist

Expert services

If you've written your first (or more) screenplay, novel, television movie or TV episode and you are now very seriously contemplating sending it to an agent, producer or publisher, my services for advanced writers will help you. Is your writing really ready to go? Knowing you have one shot and one shot only with a producer or publisher, are you confident your screenplay or manuscript is ready for the bigs? Or would you feel much more confident with "fresh eyes" on your work?

• Intensive analysis of your first five critical pages. If you don't snare your reader with your first five pages, you've lost them forever. Guaranteed.
• Critical, comprehensive analysis of your internal code: is your script or manuscript actually about what you think it's about? Too often, what's in our heads and what is on the written page are far from the same.
• Detailed examination of your characters. Are your characters real? Is their dialog genuine? Are their voices unique and recognizable? Are their wants and desires real and compelling? Are they lasting, memorable characters?

Gut Check Analysis

Fantastic. You've written your first (or more) screenplay, novel, television movie or TV episode and you are now very seriously contemplating sending it to an agent, producer or publisher. Is it really ready to go? Knowing you have one shot and one shot only with a producer or publisher, are you confident your screenplay or manuscript is ready for the bigs? Or would you feel much more confident with "fresh eyes" on your work.

With my gut check analysis, I will personally scrutinize every aspect of your script or manuscript, analyze the ten most common problem areas and errors and offer you solid, creative suggestions to fix the problems I may find. The most common and obvious errors I look for are:

• Did you crack the code? Is your script or manuscript actually about what you think it's about? Too often, what's in our heads and what is on the page are far from the same.
• Is your script or manuscript plot-driven or character-driven? If plot-driven, I will offer you creative suggestions to elevate your work to the far more saleable character-driven mode.
• Are your characters real? Is their dialog genuine? Are their voices unique and recognizable? Are their wants and desires real and compelling? Are they lasting, memorable characters?
• Can the reader/audience relate to your characters on a human, emotional, universal level?
• Does every scene move the story forward? If not, get rid of it. A scene that does not move the story forward (regardless of how much you may personally love that scene) is excess baggage. If you don't cut it, an editor will.
• Does each scene, each act, each chapter have the requisite arc, i.e., a "beginning-middle-and-end"? If not, let's fix it. Great writing is all about compound and complex arcs.
• Does each scene, each act, each chapter reverberate with dramatic tension?
• This one's a no-brainer: does your antagonist have a clear cut goal? Does the audience/reader know what your antagonist wants and how he/she plans to achieve it?
• Does your antagonist have a clear and worthy opposition? What are the clear cut impediments to your antagonist's achieving his/her goal?
• And most important: is your script or manuscript fun to read? Is it compelling? Is it interesting? Is the idea and premise unique and original or is it just another "me, too" effort?

Screenplay/Novel/Manuscript reviews

You've already written; you've done the heavy lifting. Your script or manuscript is pristine and properly formatted. Your friends and family have already congratulated you on a spectacular job. Now what you really need is an experienced, professional, critical, honest analysis of every aspect of your screenplay or manuscript. That's what I do. I bring my thirty-plus years of proven expertise to your project and offer creative suggestions and solutions to help you bring out your very best work.

Additional Services:

• Phone Conferences
• Premise and Story Evaluation
• Character Analysis
• Marketing Assistance
• Writer's Block
• Plot Point Roadblocks
• Little Vexing Problems

Just want to talk?

Many of the most common writing problems can be solved with a brief phone conference. Or maybe you want to bounce an idea around or perhaps you need some help—and motivation—to get started. I am usually available for telephone consultations Wednesday thru Saturday, 11:00 am to 7:00 pm U.S. Pacific time. Fees on request, 1/2 hour minimum. Contact me for convenient times.