What is a Script Editor? What is a Script Reader? What is a Script Consultant?

Sometimes, the different terms used to describe script development professionals can be baffling, but ultimately the only distinction really worth knowing about is between a Script Editor (or Reader/Consultant/Developer/Coach/Guru/Story Analyst) and a Script Doctor.

On this page we’ll deal with what a Script Editor (or Reader/Consultant/Developer/Story Analyst) does. If you want to read about what a Script Doctor does, click here.

The first thing to understand is that a Script Editor is NOT – at least when they’re script editing – a writer. They do not write, or re-write. Instead they provide feedback, guidance, encouragement, or constructive criticism. They also manage writers – sometimes it’s their job to ensure that writers stick to the project’s brief.

After all, if you were a producer, and you’d paid a writer to write a thriller for you, you’d be pretty annoyed if he delivered a slow-paced drama! Script editors ensure writers hit deadlines, and stick to the project’s brief.

Ultimately script editors aren’t there to come up with the story for you, but rather to get the very best out of you – a bit like a sports coach, or mentor figure.