I'm always put off by people who charge you for anything to do with writing, but is a Manuscript Critique a good thing?
Manuscript Critiques - worth it?
I kinda feel that people know deep down what they have to do. Paying someone might work for some people if they have money to spare, but if you're ready to send something out into the world then you'll have invested enough time and effort to check for yourself whether you've covered basic points (says an unpublished author). But there are so many people who are just asking for lots of money to read it and give their opinion rather than being useful and having actual knowledge, so if you go down this route investigate very, very carefully.
If you can find someone respected, then of course it can be worthwhile. You're not often the best judge of what you need to do to your own script to get it to the next level, especially if you've been working on the thing for months on end, and you want it to be the best you can be before that first producer lays eyes on it.
I think it is just an opinion, but then again if done by a someone respected an opinion worth having. so torn. I could have used this service a few years ago though, everything I wrote should have been called "look how many words I know" but you live and learn
If you're torn, save your money imo. Ask people you know, check out writing forums where you can post manuscripts, leave it for a while and go back- fresh eyes are remarkable.
We should be constantly improving, if you felt that you hadn't bettered something you wrote a few years ago that would be a bad sign!
The best money I ever spent was on a script feedback. It depends where you are with writing in general and a project in particular.
Had a script doctor look at one of mine once and it was a pretty positive - if slightly unnerving - experience.
Didn't pay for it myself though, and it was someone my agent suggested for the job.
The trick is finding one you can trust and who's good.
If you do, it's probably worth any amount of money.
That's a big 'if' though.
I currently have some time available to read and advise on scripts. Credentials are on my blog (mjscripts.co.uk). I"m chairing the Cofilmic sketch judges this afternoon, and in London tomorrow, but if anyone is interested, PM me and I'll get back to you when I'm home again.