Screenwriting : Looking for Advice: Revision or New Script? by Shamila Habibi

The only opinion that matters is yours. You're the writer. After that, the studio. If you think the feedback was good, and if you feel that it improves your work, then revise and sell it. But don't write for a higher score from people who can't produce it into a film. Most importantly, no one responding here can tell you anything about your script without reading it.

I totally agree with James Rovira.

People either like or don't like your scripts. Creativity is subjective. You show it to 10 people, you're going to get 10 different critiques. I myself go through several rewrites based on my own thoughts and suggestions. I've tested this theory by entering a script into several competitions. There was one I actually won years ago and entered the same script in another competition, was not even selected. Crazy field but I keep writing.

Congratulations on finishing your first screenplay, Shamila Habibi! Those are really impressive scores for a first script! Congratulations! I suggest improving Errors We Carry. You could outline a new script while you make Errors We Carry better if you want to, then start writing the second script. That way, you're building a portfolio of strong scripts.

James Rovira Maybe I need to work on my self-confidence more than my script lol. Thank you!

Richard Kjeldgaard Good to know! Thanks for sharing your experience.

Maurice Vaughan That’s really reassuring to hear. Thank you. I will start a new one and modify this one as you recommended.

I would use the evaluation as a commentary on your skills rather than localized to the screenplay itself. As such, I would work on the skills you want to fix either within the screenplay or within a new work.

Shamila Habibi The evaluations on The Black List can vary. You can make a ton of improvement on a script and score worse than before. I know this from experience. So, I hate to say there is no guarantee that you'll receive that coveted "8" or higher we all hope to achieve. However, keep writing and keep improving. Break it down and build it back up. GET MORE FEEDBACK. But this is still your story. You don't have to listen to ANY of the feedback but I can tell you from experience it HELPS.

Lots of good input here Shamila Habibi. Just have one thing to add and that is to not necessarily go by what (only) one service says. It'd be different if you had submitted to 3 and there was a pattern present. If you have some trusted colleagues that will read it, try that.

Hi Shamila Habibi I want to echo what Daniel and Leonardo have said. The Blacklist has been the toughest script score service I've used. I think because the readers know how much an 8+ is coveted and what it costs the system, they are very tough in scoring. That said, all art is subjective, so I think you can get a 7/10 with a revised version. Every reader is an audience, and not everyone will be the audience your work speaks to. I've had the same version of script be torn apart from one service or contest and be given a 10/10 from another, and both are reputable services/contests, but the script's theme aligned better with one over the other. All the best with your writing!

You're welcome, Shamila Habibi.

Ha, perhaps we all do. I would definitely listen to the person saying get feedback from multiple sources and look for patterns.

But regarding confidence, it comes from two sources.

First we have to know what we're doing.

Then we have to know that we know what we're doing.

The second one takes work and time and is harder than the first. We often know what we're doing before we know that we know it.

I've learned that feedback often tells me what I already know is wrong, but sometimes the best feedback opens up possibilities and illuminates my blind spots. I have confidence as a writer, but I always seek out and listen to feedback.

James Rovira I like what you wrote!

I would get just one more evaluation after making revisions to your second or whatever number draft. I have wasted so much money on Blcklst.com. One of my scripts got a 3, but then it ended up landing Finalist in a screenplay competition. Also, since you have a 6 right now and if you get another 6 or higher, it can make it to the "Top List" on Blcklst.com. One of mine was on the "Top List" because I had a 6 and a 7, and I got a lot of hits and downloads. Hope this helps.

Yes it's worth it.

Don't listen to these 6's.

I would not listen to the Blacklist scores BUT I would say it's time to get REAL notes and not BS coverage. To figure out where the story and script do still need work. Happy to help over at No BullScript!

Both concurrently as you need too develop both skills and they willl overlap.

Don't beat yourself up. Take the constructive criticism and keep going. No matter what always, always believe in yourself because if you dont why should anybody else? Lastly be reminded that some of the greatest movies/scripts of all time were turned down by so many productions that now regret it!!! God bless

You're doing great. The indie film producer who read my script said, "The first half is boring. Who would want to see this? Start your story on page 60."

Translation: Page 60, where the hero gets stabbed. Skip the love story. Nobody wants to see that.

Shamila Habibi connect with the success team here at Stage 32 they will guide you with your current work. Don't give up on it yet, with all the work you have put into this script. There is so much help here in Stage 32 you are not alone with your work.

I'd be happy to read it and offer my own advice. I find the Blacklist to be hard critiques, but also, they can point to some very strong issues. The issue I have with their 'evaluations' is they're highly subjective and often not as informative on how to address the issues.

Do you know who did the evaluation or was it just some nameless entity. Everyone has an opinion, but one never knows the level of expertise the evaluator has. We also have to deal with humans which is a very inconsistent variable. Does the evaluator even like the genre you're writing in? Do they have any proof they even know what they're talking about? Do you have to pay again for them to evaluate your rewrite? If these guys were really trying to help producers find the best screenplays, they would evaluate them for free, hook you up with the best producer and take a cut off the deal that eventually develops.

Every score you received was a 5 or above with your highest scores being for Premise and Setting. Your Characters and Dialogue got 5 &6 while you're plot got a 4. Now you don't go into any examples of what they found "wrong" with your screenplay so it's hard to tell if they are right or just morons. Personally, these scores mean nothing to me when you haven't established a scale. It's like a doctor asking you on a scale of 1-10, how much pain are you in? If the Oscars are any gauge, there are no standards of excellence.

Just remember that every screenplay that goes into production comes with a budget and it has strict goals attached to that budget. Not that it seems like modern day investors are interested in making a profit these days, but you still have to go by the assumption that they want to see a favorable return on their investment.

So when you look at your story with a critical eye, ask yourself 1) Did I write something entertaining? 2) What would be a reasonable budget for this story? 3) Figure for every million dollars they spend on the budget, they need at least 300,000 ticket sales at an average ticket price of $10.78 per ticket. 4) Lastly, is it a film, when completed by a competent cast and crew, that will warrant multiple viewings by the same person?

Writing a screenplay can be a daunting task that sometimes we blaze through it just to get it done. We can take pride that we finished it, but ultimately it has to come down to if your story, as you envisioned it, has generational legs. Can anyone really evaluate that and if they could, what are they working for Black List for and not writing their own screenplay masterpiece? Don't take what these "experts" have to say too seriously. With all the multi-million dollar failures in 2025, these "expert" are more times than not, talking out of their collective rumps.

Screenwriters just can't be writers alone. They have to know how to position their work so that it's a no-brainer to the elites that don't always use their brains. Have faith in what you created otherwise these so-called experts will continue to take you to the cleaners.