Let’s be real: when it comes to feedback on your script, you can’t always trust your friends or fellow screenwriters to tell you the unvarnished truth. They’re your friends, after all. Of course, they’re going to be supportive. They’ll cheer you on, tell you they loved it, and maybe even throw in a few notes to help you improve. But if they secretly hated your script? Odds are, they’re not going to tell you that.

There’s nothing I hate more than when a writer justifies their script by saying their friends read it and loved it. They’re your friends; of course, they’re going to be supportive. And that’s a problem. Because if you’re serious about becoming a better screenwriter, you need real, honest, unfiltered feedback—even if it stings.

Why Supportive Feedback Isn’t Enough

Supportive feedback feels great in the moment, but it won’t help you grow as a writer. What you need is the kind of feedback that challenges you, points out the flaws in your script, and shows you exactly where and how you can improve. Sugarcoated notes won’t get you there. Brutal honesty will.

The trick is getting your peers to drop the niceties and give you the truth. And the best way to do that? Give them permission to hate your script.

The “Pass on It” Technique

Here’s the technique that works wonders: When you ask your peers for feedback, preface your request by telling them that they’re going to pass on your script. Yes, you read that right. Before they even read a single page, make it clear that you’re not asking them to evaluate whether they like it or not. Instead, you’re asking them to tell you all the reasons they’re passing on it.

Why does this work?

1. It removes the pressure to be nice. By framing the request this way, you’re giving them explicit permission to dislike your script. They don’t have to feel guilty about pointing out flaws or tearing it apart.
2. It encourages honesty. When you ask someone why they’re passing on your script, you’re inviting them to be as critical as possible. The more reasons they give you, the more helpful their feedback will be.
3. It shifts the focus. Instead of looking for things to praise, your peers will start looking for things that don’t work. And that’s exactly what you need to know to make your script better.

How to Frame Your Request

When you send your script to a friend or fellow writer for feedback, try saying something like this:

“Hey, thank you for agreeing to read my script and offer feedback. Before you dive in, I want you to know that it’s not where it needs to be yet and you will be passing on this script. Just trust me it’s not there yet. What would be helpful for me is for you to give me the reasons why you’re passing. Please be as honest and detailed as possible. The more reasons you can give me, the more helpful it will be.”

This simple shift in how you ask for feedback makes a huge difference. By setting the expectation upfront that they’ll be passing on the script, you’re giving them the freedom to be fully honest. And the more honest they are, the more valuable their notes will be.

Embracing the Criticism

Let’s be clear: this technique isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s tough to hear all the reasons someone would pass on your script. But if you can set your ego aside and embrace the criticism, you’ll come out of the process with a much stronger script.

Remember, the goal isn’t to impress your peers or make them love your work. The goal is to make your script the best it can be. And to do that, you need to know where it falls short.

The Bigger Picture

Hollywood is a tough industry. Executives and producers are constantly looking for reasons to pass on scripts. If you want your script to stand out, you need to anticipate those reasons and address them before your script ever hits their desk. By using the “Pass on It” technique, you’re essentially stress-testing your script. You’re finding its weaknesses and fixing them, so when it finally does land in the hands of an exec, they have fewer reasons to pass.

Final Thoughts

Getting honest feedback on your script isn’t easy, but it’s absolutely essential. Stop relying on polite praise and start seeking out the brutal truth. Use the “Pass on It” technique to give your peers permission to hate your script and tell you exactly why. It’s a small shift in how you ask for feedback, but it can make a huge difference in the quality of the notes you receive.

So, the next time you’re ready to share your script, don’t ask your friends if they liked it. Ask them why they’d pass. Then take their feedback, use it to improve, and get one step closer to writing a script that no one can say no to.

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