We covered the first two tips on un-mucking your script notes process in Part 1 for improved productivity through streamlining your approach.

Now we’re in the home stretch. You’ve gotten notes at the right time, and from the right people, but now you have pages of feedback to sort through and you’re not sure where to start. How do you make heads or tails of them—especially when they conflict?

This is where your friendly neighborhood mad scientist comes in handy. (Enter ME.)

It’s time to Marie Kondo your script notes.

Here’s a step-by-step process I’ve tried to be true. Use what’s helpful to your process, and ignore the rest (just like with your script notes).

1. Compile and reformat
   Let’s say you have five sets of notes, all sent to you in different forms. Emailed, directly on the PDF, handwritten, sent by carrier pigeon…

   Start by compiling all of the notes in the same format. I recommend typing or copying each set of notes into a different Word doc. Then print out each set of notes so you can easily review and compare them.

2. Crosscheck and delete
   Highlight any note that occurs in more than one set of notes.

   Put an asterisk by any set of notes that directly conflict and number the corresponding ones. For example, any conflicting notes on whether you should or shouldn’t have named your protagonist directly after yourself would be labeled as: *1.

   And on a final pass here, delete or put a slash next to any notes that you don’t plan on or won’t be applying. Sometimes note givers will provide notes on the way they would write your story, so make sure to pay especially close attention here to any notes that, while well-intentioned, don’t actually fit into the tone and story you are writing. These notes can also be removed and saved in another document, with the source of the note marked so you can reference it later if you need to.

3. Apply the small notes first
   You now have a few thorough and clear sets of notes that you want to apply to your script. Start with the small notes first and cross them off your list as you complete them.

   • Formatting, spelling and typos.
   • Small dialogue changes that tighten and clarify, but don’t change the story.
   • Small story changes and revisions to action lines that tighten and clarify, but don’t change the story.
   • Cut, cut and cut extra words, dialogue, and scenes.

4. Tackle the big notes
   This is where it gets messy. You have notes that you want to apply to your story, but they’ll require a big overhaul. Complicated changes in story, character and structure. If you can apply these notes in your script as is, get to it. But a really helpful step you can take here is to pause and re-outline your story, using the notes as guide rails for the new changes.

   It may take a while, but even a simplified re-outlining before applying big changes will help you make the cleanest adjustments.

5. Consider conflicting notes
   This most inevitable aspect of the notes process can also be the most confusing, but conflicting notes are bound to happen. So, here are a few questions you can ask yourself to decide which ones to address and which ones can be chopped:

   • Who gave the notes?
     Are they an industry professional? A stranger offering unpaid coverage as part of a competition? Do they know this genre inside and out? Do they know you and your voice inside and out? Are they paying you to write the script, and can help you sell and produce it?
   • What’s the note behind the note?
     Could there be more than one way to address the note giver’s concern? If one note giver found a character “unlikable”  and another one didn’t, consider that you could address the negative note not by changing the character’s actions or dialogue in any way, but rather by revising the action lines that introduce the character and describe the reactions of those around him.
   • Is this note for their script or yours?
     Which opinion in the conflicting notes gives you the most joy, and is most in line with the tone and intention of the story you are writing?
     
     Being able to discern this last type of note will save you from going mad when you get some out-of-left-field feedback and you can’t put your finger on why you know it’s not right for your story. Pick your battles, be ready to kill your darlings, and do not be defensive with the industry professionals paying you or gifting you with some priceless feedback. But, at the end of the day, you got into writing because you have something to say, so don’t forget to listen to and develop your own voice throughout your notes process, as well!
   • And the most important question when considering conflicting notes: Do you have a choice?
     There will be times in your career, once you’re staffed or developing, when you’ll have no choice but to take a note. You may disagree diplomatically, but be ready to concede if they say no. Or if you’re lucky, you can provide a new alternative that makes everyone happy. In any case, there are much worse scenarios for a writer to be in than being paid to take a note.

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And when all is said and done, I recommend highlighting the techniques from this notes on notes process that you want to apply to your own script notes process going forward—and delete the rest.

Happy revising!