That’s a great question!
Specifically, the question is “How do you make money” which is one I get a lot, especially while travelling, and it’s fair because I wonder the same thing about other people! Partly it is writing, but that can fluctuate, which is why I have a side job that I am very grateful for.
Even so, prepare to be underwhelmed!
A good chunk of my day goes to doing Coverage for scripts (sometimes called a Script Reader). One guy called it a “Screenplay Consultant” which I thought was pretty spot on. Essentially, I read screenplays, help people diagnose their problems, and improve their stories. I do this freelance, which means that people contact me and ask for help – this ranges from a one time read to a long-term guiding process. I also work for a screenwriting contest company that helps screenwriters find me.
The contest company is much more reliable and the nature of the work changes all the time. Sometimes I am giving a quick yes/no on a read, other times I spend multiple days on a single script, giving very in-depth feedback.
I read over 100 scripts a month.
I’m at 167 scripts right now and it’s only the 21st of the month. The majority of this batch weren’t full reads – they were for smaller contests – but it is still a lot.
This is a great job for multiple reasons:
- I love reading. When the scripts are good, it’s a joy to be lost in the story. Getting a chance to champion a great story is also rewarding.
- I learn a lot. The scripts with “a lot of potential improvements” are the ones that you learn the most from, especially when you are communicating the reasons to somebody else. This has helped me in my own writing.
- I get to encourage other writers. This is my favourite part. Helping somebody improve their passion project and see it taken to the next level is awesome. The one-on-one clients are by far the best as I get a chance to come alongside and witness each new draft. This is especially rewarding because writing can be such a lonely job.
And that’s it! See, underwhelming.
However, if you are interested in getting script coverage, feel free to reach out on the contact or on social media. I love working with people and seeing them succeed. My prices can be found HERE.
I was looking for another picture of me working but I literally have none, so instead I’ll leave you with a picture of my brother’s dog dressed as a firefighter.
