Should You Pay For Script Notes? ... and the Importance of Moving to LA.

I've never paid for script notes, and aside from collecting donations for Haiti post earthquake, I've never charged for them.

I'm blessed to be surrounded by working writers who will provide me with feedback for free.  But what if you're not?  What if you're an aspiring writer living in Kansas (like I was) with no connections, and you want to submit your script to the Disney | ABC Writing Program?  Should you pay for script notes?

Let's back up.

First, before you even consider submitting your script to any consultant (or contest, for that matter), have your friends and/or colleagues read over it for typos and general notes and suggestions.  Make sure your script is as good as you can possibly make it before you submit it for professional notes;  paid-for-notes should not be the first feedback you receive.

Secondly, utilize the industry contacts you do have before you pay for anything.  Are you an assistant on a show?  If so, ask the show's writers if they are available to read your material and provide feedback.  Tell them where you're submitting your script and the type of feedback you're looking for (overall notes, joke punch ups, etc.) so they can provide you with the most helpful comments possible.

Okay, but what if you don't have any contacts?  What if you're stuck in Kansas and want to submit your script to Disney | ABC but the only person who can read your script for you is your mother? 

If you feel that paid feedback is your only option, use it to polish a script for a specfic submission.  Do not depend on it to turn your script into a sample that will land you representation via a query.   I highly recommend reputable writing programs and contests, and I believe that queries can be successful, but the likelihood of breaking into Hollywood SIMPLY by paying for notes, submitting scripts to contests, and querying managers while living somewhere else is about as likely as being discovered as an actor by posting auditions on YouTube. 

If you want to be a television writer, move to LA.  Or at the very least, New York.  I've received wonderful notes from professors, assistants, non-writing producers, executives, agents, and working writers... for free.  It's one of the many reasons it's so important for aspiring writers to live here: connections.  While it is possible for feature writers to be discovered before moving to LA, the television industry functions almost 100% on connections.    

That said, a trusted friend of mine has heard great things about Jen Grisanti's Consultancy.  This blog is meant to be a forum for writers, and I'm curious to know your opinion.  Have you ever paid for script notes?  Do you have someone to recommend?  I look forward to your comments.