good scripts get read.
great scripts get made.

Script Feedback from Working Screenwriting Coaches

NOT SURE IF YOUR SCRIPT IS WORKING?

Whether you’re rewriting, polishing for submission, or stuck after confusing feedback, our Development Notes give you clear, actionable guidance from experts who know what execs and judges are looking for.
Get a real plan for a stronger script.

Submit Your Script

“The Professional Pen is by FAR one of the BEST script consulting services available to writers at every level. They are so highly skilled and knowledgeable about story and script development, and bring their passion and intuition to the table. What they have simply can't be taught. I'm so grateful to have come across their work as they have helped me elevate my screenplays for producers. I won't make a move without TPP's services. Yes. They're THAT good.”

- Craig R. (Showrunner) and Caryn W.R. (Actress + Producer)

what are development notes?

Development Notes is our signature service, and here’s why:

Someone lied to you about needing script coverage, and TPP is on a mission to correct that mistake.
Script coverage and development notes are not the same thing —and knowing the difference could save your career. Read this before you spend another dollar→

Coverage is for executives. Development Notes, on the other hand, are for writers. They’re part of the second phase of the studio system—after the script is written but before the greenlight—where writers receive detailed notes and are expected to revise quickly, collaborate well, and deliver under pressure.

This process teaches two of the most essential skills you need to make it as a professional screenwriter:

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HOW TO RECEIVE
SCRIPT NOTES

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HOW TO ADDRESS
SCRIPT NOTES

That’s where we come in.

At The Professional Pen, our Development Notes go beyond surface-level feedback.

We help you understand exactly why your screenplay isn’t working and how to fix it—with clear, actionable next steps.
You’ll be paired with your own dedicated screenwriting coach - we call them Story Experts - who stays with you from draft to draft, so you’re not getting new eyes (and new opinions) every time. That consistency gives you a clear development path and support tailored to your specific screenwriting goals and challenges.

This isn’t just script feedback.
It’s training for a real screenwriting career in Hollywood.

Get Development Notes

MEET YOUR SCREENWRITING COACHES

  • A collage of four images showing diverse groups of people. The first image features a smiling woman with curly hair dressed in a sparkly black top. The second image shows a large group of smiling people in formal attire, suggesting a celebration or wedding. The third image is a close-up of a woman with blonde hair wiping tears from her eyes. The fourth image depicts young men in blue football uniforms on a field, smiling and walking together.

    SHANNAN E. JOHNSON, CEO + HEAD CONSULTANT

    Former TV Executive turned screenwriter and script consultant, Shannan is a quitter and a hater. An 80s baby, she didn’t know Hollywood existed until her mother sent her a magazine article about a black, female TV writer during the last semester of her senior year in college. She was later redirected from writing to development due to her ability to see plot holes like math equations and easily solve them. So, Shannan became a TV executive through the NBCU Entertainment Associates program at The Syfy Channel.

    Then, she quit. For 8 years, Shannan toured the world in dance companies (Step Afrika!, Sole DEFINED) and Broadway shows (Ghost, Amazing Grace). Didn't see that coming, huh? When she returned to L.A. to recharge her executive career, her access to Hollywood – the largest gated community in the world – was denied. So, she built The Professional Pen, the first black-owned script consultancy, to develop screenwriters and streamline scripted teams’ development processes.

    As a professional hater, Shannan provides straight-shot, no-chaser feedback to screenwriters and analysis on produced works to teach screenwriting via TPP’s social media channels.

    Partnership Highlights: The Syfy Channel, Amazon Prime Studios, FOX Writers Incubator, ScreenCraft, The Hallmark Media, Florida State University, New York Film Academy, Stage 32

    Fun Facts:
    Hometown: Houston, TX
    Favorite Film: THE BEST MAN written by Malcolm D. Lee
    Favorite Screenplay: A QUIET PLACE written by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods
    Favorite Series: “Friday Night Lights” developed by Peter Berg

  • A collage of four different images: the first is a portrait of a Black man with dreadlocks wearing glasses and a tan blazer, holding a cigarette; the second is a close-up portrait of a Black woman with short hair, with a vibrant purple and blue overlay; the third is an animated illustration of a woman with long hair, surrounded by colorful, intricate designs and Chinese characters; the fourth is a still from a movie showing two men with striking green eyes, in dark suits, against a dark, foggy city background at night.

    PAGES Matam, Lead Story Expert

    Sold writer and multi-fellowship alum, PAGES (They/He) is a genderqueer med-school dropout turned award-winning film-poet and agent of imagination, writing poems and high-concept dramas centering stubborn characters and stories of defying the odds through their Black, Queer, and immigrant perspective.

    They are a National Poetry Slam and Southern Fried Champion, a GLAAD Black Queer Creatives Fellow, a Callaloo Fellow at Brown University, and the author of three books, including “The Heart of Comet (Write Bloody).” Their work is fueled by Toni Morrison’s words: “The function of freedom is to free someone else.” They have also been featured by TEDx, Macy’s, the Apollo, Essence, and KeyTV by Keke Palmer, among many other platforms. Their short film, SEVEN MINUTES OF HEAVEN?, produced by SuperSpecial, earned multiple laurels on the festival circuit.

    When they’re not fiercely working on their next screenplay or poetry manuscript, they practice trauma-informed work as a teaching artist in Los Angeles (Tongva Land). They are a full-time artist, performer, and organizer who loves gummy bears, fried plantains, and battle-horror anime

    Highlighted Accomplishments: 1hr fantasy TV drama (EP Lily Wachowski (THE MATRIX)) in development with ITV & Anarchists United, Circle of Confusion Writers Discovery fellow, John Singleton x PAFF short film prize finalist, CANNES Diversity Showcase

    Fun Facts:
    Hometown: Born and raised in Cameroon, Central Africa then blossomed in the DMV (Piscataway Land)
    Favorite Film: MOONLIGHT written by Barry Jenkins, based on Tarell Alvin McCraney's unpublished semi-autobiographical play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue
    Favorite Screenplay: EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE written by Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan
    Favorite Series: “Interview with a Vampire” developed by Rolin Jones, based on “The Vampire Chronicle"s” by Anne Rice

  • A collage of four images: a professional man in a suit smiling, two people lying on an ice rink with a crack in the ice, a superhero Black Panther with clenched fists, and a diverse group of young adults standing together.

    Carlton Allen, Story Expert

    Working writer and master teacher, Carlton Allen (He/him) is a young mixed kid from South Los Angeles, who enjoyed escaping into good movies and television on a regular basis. He never dreamed he could one day do that as a job. Several years later during a business communication class at the University of Arizona, Carlton heard a classmate give a speech about screenwriting. The very next day, he switched his major from business to communication with the goal of writing and producing television and feature length films.

    Carlton's passion is to create unique stories with diverse voices all wrapped up in a thought-provoking yet entertaining package.  To date, Carlton has written dozens of specs, original pilots, and features, placing in such competitions as The Austin Film Festival and Final Draft’s Big Break.

    As Carlton traverses the screenwriting industry, he takes on writing gigs to keep his skills sharp. He was hired to write a CRM sales-focused interactive simulation for training and hiring practices where he crafted the story, outcome-based scenes based on player options, and wrote the dialogue for all the NPC’s (Non-Player Characters).

    Carlton also recently published a short book of fun facts and the history of tennis.  A passion project, Pocket Guide of Fun Facts About Tennis gave him an opportunity to learn about online publishing. Both of these projects had their own set of challenges, just like learning and growing in screenwriting, but it's always worth the reward. They both opened his eyes to the type of work that’s available to writers while we work like hell to make it in Hollywood.

    Highlights: (Production) Warner Bros. Nickelodeon, FOX and CBS (Teaching) Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, FIAT and Toyota

    Fun Facts:
    Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
    Favorite Film: ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND written by Charlie Kauffman
    Favorite Screenplay: BLACK PANTHER written by Joe Robert Cole & Ryan Coogler based on the Marvel Comics by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee
    Favorite Series: “The Big Bang Theory” created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady

SUBMIT YOUR SCRIPT FOR DEVELOPMENT NOTES

You’ll Receive:

• Detailed page-by-page notes on:
• Story
• Structure
• Character
• Areas of Confusion

Plus:
• Overall summary of areas of development
• Final recommendation: Pass / Needs Development / Consider
• Clear next steps

What To Expect:
• Turnaround: 14 business days
• Additional pages: $4/pg.
• Pay Later Available
• Discount on future drafts

Continue Your Development:
• Logline Review
• Story Jam
• Rewrite Package

SELECT YOUR SCRIPT FORMAT:

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1/2hr TV

For pilot scripts up to 30 pgs.

$139

Submit 1/2hr TV
A television set with rabbit ear antennas displaying a graphic of a clock pointing to 60 minutes and an arrow circling around it. The background features a green circle with a dark green border.

1hr TV

For pilot scripts up to 60 pgs.

$259

Submit 1hr TV
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FEATURES

For feature scripts up to 120 pgs.

$379

Submit Feature

WRITING A SHORT FILM?

Short scripts move fast, which means every moment has to count. If you’re unsure whether your story is clear, your ending lands, or the idea is strong enough to produce, a Story Jam can help you talk it through before moving forward.

In a 1-hour Story Jam, your Story Expert will read up to 15 pages of your short in advance and use your session to walk through the story with you. Together, you’ll identify plot holes, areas of confusion, and opportunities to strengthen the script, while also discussing what it might take to make the project production-ready. You’ll also have time to ask questions about the story, the writing process, and the practicality of producing the short.

Please note: Story Jams do not include written notes. Instead, your Story Expert will provide feedback and guidance during the live consultation so you can leave the session with clarity and a plan for next steps.

Additional pages can be added for $4 per page.
*Pay Later Option Available

Schedule A Story Jam

you’ve got questions.
we’ve got answers.

Browse our FAQs — or chat 1:1 with a Story Expert to get your questions answered.

Schedule a Kick-Off Jam

  • The Development Notes Service for Feature screenplays and TV scripts includes:

    • Turnaround Time: 2 Weeks

    • Extensive Page Notes, including but not limited to:

      • Structure

      • Character

      • Story

      • Formatting

      • Areas of confusion

      • Suggested revisions​

      • Recommendation: Pass/Needs Development/Consider

    • Option to Add-On a Logline Review

    • Option to Add-On a Story Jam to answer any clarifying questions

    • Option to work 1:1 with your personal Story Expert through a Rewrite Package

    Submit your Feature for Development Notes here.

    Submit your 1/2hr TV script or Development Notes here.

    Submit your 1hr TV script or Development Notes here.

  • Writing a short film script?
    Let’s make sure it’s ready for production.

    Shorts are calling cards — and you want yours to stand out. In this 1:1 session, a Story Expert will walk through your script with you, offer clear feedback, and help you assess whether it’s ready to shoot or still needs a polish. It’s not just about the story — it’s about being production-ready.

    Schedule a Story Jam to workshop your short.

  • For Features and TV Scripts:

    1. Select the correct format in the pricing table.

    2. Purchase the service via the checkout page.

    3. Pen Pals have the option to Add-On a Logline Review and a Notes Call.

    4. After payment, Pen Pals will be directed to submit their script.

    5. If a Logline Review was purchased, add your Logline in the dedicated form field for review.

    6. If a Notes Call was purchased, Pen Pals will receive a link to schedule the call when the notes are returned via email from your personal Story Expert.

    For Shorts:

    1. Select Shorts in the pricing table.

    2. Schedule your call.

    3. Upon submitting payment, Pen Pals will be directed to submit their script.

  • Script recommendations are evaluations that help writers understand the level of development their script requires
    ​to meet industry standards and enhance its overall quality.

    PASS: The story is either unclear, has weak structure, needs more complex character work or is lacking proofreading and industry-standard formatting.

    NEEDS DEVELOPMENT: The screenplay is working in most areas but not executing at its highest potential. The script will be in great shape if the writer addresses the action items disclosed in the feedback.

    CONSIDER: The story is clear, the structure is strong, the characters are 3-dimensional, and the proofreading and formatting is professional and up to industry standard.

  • Need help applying your notes?
    You can upgrade to a Rewrite Package—six weeks of 1:1, two-hour sessions with your Story Expert to implement the notes and elevate your draft into a portfolio-ready script.

    Rewrite Packages are available on a case-by-case basis, depending on availability.

  • The Story Notes service is designed for Pen Pals who have revised their script based on Development Notes from their assigned Story Expert. Your Story Expert will monitor and guide your progress, ensuring your script is polished and refined.

    The Story Notes service includes:

    • Detailed, page-by-page Story Notes

    • Overall summary of your areas of development and next steps


    The Story Notes service does not include:

    • Proofreading + Formatting Notes

    • Logline Review

    Finished your revised draft? Submit for Story Notes here.

  • Story Experts are assigned unless specifically requested. You'll continue working with the same Story Expert on future services to ensure consistency and track your progress from draft to draft. This helps avoid conflicting feedback and provides a more focused path toward a polished script.

    If a new Story Expert is ever assigned, they’ll review the original feedback to stay aligned with your journey—but they will not read your original submission. If you prefer to start fresh with a new Story Expert, you can resubmit your script as a new project by selecting the appropriate format from the pricing table.

  • No worries. We’ve got you at every step in your screenwriting journey.

    If you find yourself needing additional support addressing your notes, you can work 1: 1 with your personal Story Expert through a Rewrite Package. The package includes 6 weeks of 2-hour sessions designed to refine your script into a polished sample ready for your professional writing portfolio.

    Rewrite packages are available on a case-by-case basis and at Story Expert availability.

  • If your script is longer than the standard page count, please Add-On the number additional pages during checkout at $4/page. Increase the quantity by the number of additional pages.

    Standard Page Counts:

    • Shorts (20 pages)

    • 1/2hr TV (30 pages)

    • 1hr TV ( 60 pages)

    • Feature (75-120 pages)

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hollywood

hollywood

yOU’RE ONE STEP CLOSER TO BEING A WORKING WRITER - let’s GET YOU THERE,

Development Notes simulate the exact feedback pro writers get from studio execs.
If you’re serious about screenwriting, this is your next move.

Submit your script