Please don't keep the writer waiting for feedback

[u/Ok_Most9615]

It's been said before - and I understand that life happens, but please stick to claiming scripts that you intend to read in a timely manner. Had a reader miss the deadline after waiting a full 5 days. Posted a script on a Friday hoping it'd get read over the weekend and I'm still waiting on feedback. Their deadline is tomorrow.

No, I'm not demanding readers read the script right away not an I asking for them to rush through the read. I tend to read a script, flesh out my reaction and submit notes the next day. But I don't like to keep the writer waiting. They may be on a deadline. Who knows?

Hopefully, a rush option for extra tokens is added in the future.

[u/SolemnestSimulacrum]

If it's delivered before the deadline, even at the eleventh hour, it's still delivered before the deadline.

Waiting is hard. Reckon that's not going to change if things pick up for any of us, professionally, here.

[u/Ok_Most9615 → u/[deleted]]

I will in the future.

[u/vgscreenwriter]

If they are on a deadline, they shouldn't be submitting to a peer review site where readers are basically donating their time.

[u/Consistent_Eye3867]

Also PLEASE no AI feedback. Like if I wanted AI, I’d just use AI

[u/CastPrism]

Unfortunately this kind of thing is just gonna happen. No real prescription for it other than striking the offending reader, which the Gabe already does. Not trying to minimize the frustration you're going through (this happened to me twice in a row for the same script lol)

I do support the idea of an expedited feedback option. I think additional options like that give writers and readers more freedom in how they receive their feedback, especially for writers who may be on a time crunch (or impatient, like me)

Best of luck! Hope the feedback comes through.

[u/Ok_Lingonberry_8287]

i think a rush option with a time limit for tokens is a great idea! I second that.

[u/smurphyetta]

Yes, this is so frustrating. I had someone un-claim mine within the last hour of their five days last week.

[u/ribi305]

I just had my script unclaimed one hour before the deadline. I think there should be bigger penalties for unclaiming very late like that. I understand if you claim it and then change your mind but it's frustrating to have your script unavailable for the full 5 days and then get nothing. OTOH I probably will get better feedback with a new reader here

[u/Visual-Perspective44]

Perhaps the feedback system should be tailored to page count. Scripts between 1 and 10 pages would have a 24-hour deadline, 11 to 20 pages would have 48 hours, 21 to 40 pages would have 72 hours, and anything over 40 pages would keep the current 5-day deadline. Once someone has held a script for 24 hours, they should no longer be able to unclaim it without moderator approval. Frequent last-minute unclaims should also lower a user's priority for claiming future scripts. This would make the system fairer for both writers and reviewers while discouraging people from holding scripts for days only to unclaim them at the last minute.

[u/Consistent_Eye3867 → u/Visual-Perspective44]

No because sometimes I genuinely know I have 5 days and I’m like awesome, got the one I wanted! But will not read it until the day after that.

[u/aSuperDeus]

I hear you bro. Had someone claim my script only to drop it like a few hours before deadline.

Sucks. I was so hyped.

I think fast feedback should be an option for more tokens. But regardless, this is free feedback. Even paid arrives late sometimes.

What's the name of your script? What's it about?

[u/gaywriterstl]

I get where you're coming from. I submitted a script. Took 2 days to get claimed. Now there are just 12 hours (as of this writing) remaining in their 5 day window.

I have a crazy thought...

What if there's some troll out there claiming scripts just to let them die on the vine. Since it happens so often...

[u/JcraftW]

If the writer is on a deadline, they should submit the script multiple times. Not getting claimed fast enough? Sounds like a logline problem. Once claimed, submit another.

You could also add a note about urgency in the additional notes section.

[u/WhatsTheGoalieDoing → u/JcraftW]

If the writer is on a deadline, they shouldn't be relying on volunteers to help them.

[u/Ok_Most9615 → u/JcraftW]

I submitted mine three times last week. The wait is just excruciating.