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Notes Survival Guide for Screenwriters & Authors

May 19, 2026 · 17 min

Show notes

Getting feedback on a script or novel shouldn't be so anxiety inducing. This episode of 5AM StoryTalk is the ultimate notes survival guide for screenwriters and authors receiving feedback – and a masterclass for producers, agents, and book editors looking to deliver critiques that actually inspire great revisions!

👉 SCREENPLAY PERFORMANCE STUDIO: Today's episode is brought to you by Screenplay Performance Studio. Check them out and use the code 5AMStoryTalk to get $25 off. screenplayperformancestudio.com/5AM

ON THE ITINERARY:

  • THE FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT RESPONSE: Breaking down the actual evolutionary psychology of why creative feedback triggers the exact same brain response as a physical attack.
  • THE "MURDER" IMPULSE: Why many standard industry notes often derail a writer's momentum instead of helping the story.
  • FILTERING THE GOLD: A step-by-step strategy for screenwriters and novelists to separate valuable insights from otherwise questionable note sessions.
  • HOW TO GIVE NOTES (WITHOUT THE DRAMA): The exact blueprint for producers, agents, book editors, and peers to deliver devastating critiques in a way that actually inspires the creator.
  • HOLLYWOOD VS. THE REST OF THE WORLD: The gap between how Hollywood notes are given and how they’re given elsewhere around the globe.
  • THE SCREENWRITER VS. NOVELIST DIVIDE: How the feedback landscape can differ between the screenwriting and publishing worlds.
  • THE EMOTIONAL CURE: My personal toolkit for cooling down, processing the anxiety, and turning a brutal notes session into a great script revision.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY!

Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: https://colehaddon.substack.com/

LINKS:

  • Read why this episode's sponsor, Screenplay Performance Studio, meets this podcast's human-made art standards for a digital tool: https://screenplayperformancestudio.com/privacy-policy.html
  • Read "The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/new-podcast-episode-the-horror-of

TIP JAR:

Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” ⁠⁠⁠here to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…

  • 5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
  • Cole Haddon @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
  • Bluesky⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
  • Threads⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.com/Colehaddonwashere⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

EMAIL:

⁠[email protected]

CREDITS:

  • 5AM StoryTalk acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
  • This podcast’s music is by ⁠⁠Cary Brothers⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.carybrothers.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


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