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We have to ask why anyone should want to evaluate your work for nothing. Nobody really words for nothing and so you should ask yourself why the offer is being made- there is sure to be a payment down the line for the evaluator- the question is whether this is in your interests or not.

If the evaluator is looking to become your agent then it is quite right that he should make money from the script (as much as possible in fact, provided you also get rich too). The problem comes when it is not really clear why the other person is being so generous with their time.

Make sure your script is properly protected before you let anyone see it- particularly anyone who is in the industry in an ill defined way. There is always the risk of plagiarism.

There is also the problem of taking advice- do you do so? It depends on whether you see yourself as a hack or a tortured artist- and there is nothing wrong with being a hack who simply entertains people! I am a hack on helium! My articles are simply written and as useful as I can make them- but I do not aspire to being Shakespear.

It would have been wrong for the bard to take too much advice, but most hacks should do so.

I hope this helps.

Learn more about this author, Richard Ford.
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