What is Read My Play?
Read My Play is a free script exchange service that facilitates the sharing of critical feedback among playwrights to inform future drafts of works-in-progress. Our intention is to modernize, automate and greatly expand the common practice of peer review to help create better theater.
How does it work?
Users of our site, playwrights, earn credits by reading and submitting critical feedback on other users' scripts. They redeem those credits by placing their own scripts into the reading queue to receive feedback from other readers on their own plays-in-progress. Credits are equal to script pages. For example, if you'd like feedback on your 90-page script, you need to read a total of 90 pages of other users' scripts first. Your credit balance persists over time, growing and shrinking with your site activity. Upload as many scripts as you like, and place as many into the reading queue as many times as you like, as long as you have enough credits.
What does it cost?
Read My Play is a free service. But if you find the site useful in your writing, we hope you'll make a small donation to support the site's ongoing maintenance and development of new features.
Answers for writers
How do I get started putting my plays onto Read My Play? Create an account first. You can do very little at Read My Play until you're a registered user. You're required to upload your first play script when you create your account. After that, you can upload as many of your plays into your library as you like. But in order to place instances of your plays into the reading queue to get feedback from other playwright users, you'll need to earn credit by reading and submitting feedback on other users' works.
What types of works may I upload?
We accept stage plays of any length that have been written by you and are owned by you. Radio plays are acceptable; but screenplays, teleplays and any other type of written works are not.
Are there any restrictions on content?
No. However, when uploading scripts containing questionable content, please select "Play contains content that may be disturbing or offensive to some readers" under "Content warning" and enter descriptive keywords so readers will be flagged to your play's nature before downloading it. Scripts not flagged by writers but reported by readers as having disturbing or offensive content may be flagged as such by Read My Play administrators.
Are musicals acceptable?
Yes. You may choose to include lyrics and/or sheet music in your script PDF. If you have MP3s you'd also like to share, we suggest you host those files with a cloud storage provider such as Google Drive or DropBox and offer links to them from within your PDF.
What legal protections do I have when sharing my scripts at Read My Play?
Read My Play is not a law firm, cannot offer legal advice, and cannot guarantee legal protection of your uploaded works. We strongly recommend you only upload works registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, or the equivalent agency in your country.
When I upload a script, am I assigning ownership of the play to Read My Play?
No. You remain the owner of your play. And remember: You should only upload scripts you have written and that you own.
Should I include my name and contact information on the script?
No. Read My Play is intended to be an anonymous script exchange service. While not required, we suggest you only upload files that have been stripped of any and all data that identify you as the author. This helps assure a more honest critique of your work by other playwrights.
How should I format my play?
Plays must be written in standard stage play format using 12-point type and generous margins, such as described by Samuel French or other major publishers. Minor formatting variations exist, and will not constitute a violation of this rule. However, readers are encouraged to report scripts they receive that don't adhere closely enough to standard formatting, and those scripts may be removed from the site by Read My Play administrators.
What file formats/sizes do you accept?
Your script must be saved in Adobe's PDF format, and cannot exceed 3MB.
I have a PDF file that's larger than your maximum allowed size. What can I do?
Our maximum file size should be adequate to accommodate even the lengthiest stage play. If you're having troubles, perhaps you scanned printed pages and created your PDF from the resulting image files. We strongly encourage users to export their PDFs directly from their word processing applications, such as Final Draft, Scrivener and Word, to minimize file size. Contact us for assistance.
What if I want to revise my play script(s)?
Rewriting and improving your drafts are exactly why we created Read My Play. You can edit your play library as you wish, including refreshing your script PDFs with newer versions. The only time you'll be prohibited from updating your scripts is when they're "checked out" by other readers who are about to submit feedback to you. We "freeze" plays that're checked out to avoid confusion.
What if I want to remove my play script(s) from your website?
You can remove any of your scripts from Read My Play whenever you like. The only exception is when they're "checked out" by other readers who are about to submit feedback to you. We "freeze" plays that are checked out to avoid confusion.
Once I've added a play to the reading queue, how long before I can expect feedback?
Plays are read on a first-come/first-served basis. You can see where your plays are in the reading queue in your user dashboard. Once a user's been assigned your play to read, s/he will have three (3) days to read it and submit their feedback.
How can I get feedback on my play faster?
If you want to accelerate the queue, read a play! The more active readers we have, the faster plays move through the queue.
Can I specify the type of feedback I'm looking for?
Yes. If you have specific questions you want readers to answer — or want readers to focus their efforts in any way — you can affix your requests to the play when you upload it. You can also revise those requests any time you like. Readers may follow your requests only at their discretion.
What if a reader misses his/her deadline to read my play?
If the reader hasn't submitted feedback for you by the end of the three-day deadline, your play automatically returns to the top of the reading queue, and will be assigned to the next user who requests a play to read.
I noticed my play moved down in the queue, rather than up. How did that happen?
When a reader misses a deadline, the play they were assigned returns to the top of the queue, in fairness to the playwright. This shifts all plays in the queue down.
Where can I read feedback on my plays?
All feedback for each of the plays in your library can be found by clicking the comments icon ( ) next to the play.
What if I receive feedback that's less than adequate?
Read My Play can't guarantee the quality of the feedback you'll receive. But if you receive feedback you deem problematic, click " Manage this feedback > Report to administrators" at the top of the feedback to report it to site administrators. Some reasons to report feedback might include:
It doesn't meet the minimum word count;
It's abusive or obscene; or
It appears to have been generated by artificial intelligence (AI)
Please do not report feedback you simply disagree with or consider unhelpful.
If you'd like to assure this reader won't be assigned another of your scripts in the future, click " Manage this feedback > Block feedback from this user." If you have a change of heart, you can undo this block anytime you wish.
Answers for readers
I'm ready to read a play and earn credit. How do I do it? Create an account first. You can do very little at Read My Play until you're a registered user. In your user dashboard, click "Read a play". You'll be shown the play's title; page count; content advisory, if the playwright submitted one; your feedback deadline; and minimum feedback word count, based on the play's page count. If you accept the play into your reading list, you'll have until the end of the day three (3) days from now to submit your feedback.
Will the playwright know who wrote the feedback I submit?
Not by default. Read My Play is intended to be an anonymous script exchange service. By default, our site will not reveal your identity to the playwrights whose plays you read and critique. However, if you choose to check "Please share my email address with the writer of this play" when you submit your feedback, we'll share your email address with the playwright and indicate you're amenable to follow-up discussions regarding the play.
Can I pick and choose which plays I read to earn credit?
No. Plays are served on a first-come/first-served basis for fairness to all playwrights. However, before you commit to read a play you'll be shown the play's title; page count; content advisory, if the playwright submitted one; your feedback deadline; and minimum feedback word count, based on the play's page count to help you decide if you'd like to read it.
Can I employ artificial intelligence (AI) such as ChatGPT in writing my feedback?
Absolutely not. Users discovered submitting script feedback generated by AI will have their accounts deleted.
How long will I have to read a play and submit my critical feedback?
Three (3) days. For example, if you add a play to your reading list on Monday, you'll have until the end of Thursday (Eastern time) to submit your feedback.
What happens if I miss a deadline to submit critical feedback to another playwright user?
As an incentive to follow-through, we'll deduct credits from your account if you miss your deadline. The amount of credits deducted from your account balance will equal one-half the page count of the play. For example, if you miss the deadline to provide feedback on a 100-page play, your account will be penalized 50 credits.
How much critical feedback should I submit for a play?
There is a minimum amount of feedback you'll need to provide for each play you read, which is based on the page count of the play. You'll be presented with this word count at the time you agree to add a play to your reading list, and again when you're entering your feedback into the feedback form.
What should my critical feedback consist of?
Since there are many ways to offer fellow playwrights feedback on their work, we can't define what form your feedback should take. But pay close attention to the type of feedback the playwright might've described as wishing to receive when you added the play to your reading list. At the very least, provide coverage on those points, if the playwright specified any.
Readers who attempt to artificially inflate feedback word count — by quoting extensively from the script or pasting random words into the feedback window — will have their accounts deleted without warning.
What if I encounter a problem with a play I've agreed to read?
You can report a problem play script to site administrators from your user dashboard by clicking the flag icon ( ). Some reasons to report a script might include:
You cannot open the PDF/the file is corrupt;
The script doesn't closely enough follow standard stage play formatting;
The play doesn't include a content advisory, but should; or
The page count is incorrect
If the play is deemed problematic by site administrators, you won't be required to submit feedback and will not incur a credit penalty.
Misc
How come I never encounter my own scripts when I request a play to read?
Read My Play will never assign you one of your own plays to read.
How can I check my credit balance?
The user dashboard is the command center for all of your Read My Play activity. Your credit balance is prominently displayed in the right sidebar, or at the bottom of the page on mobile devices. If you'd like a closer look, examine the credit ledger, which is a detailed history of all your credit activity.
How do I report a problem with the site?
If you encounter an anomaly with our site or have a suggestion, please contact us. When reporting an issue, please be as specific as you can to help us replicate the problem.
Who built this?
Read My Play was built by Craig Bailey, sole proprietor of Random Precision Media LLC of Shelburne, Vt.; and co-owner of Web development company Root802. Craig's a web developer with a long-time interest in acting and writing for stage and screen. He built Read My Play during Summer 2019 to fill what he saw as a need for a more robust credit-based exchange that went beyond the simpler and more common "you-read-mine/I'll-read-yours" arrangements.
Craig's plays have won a number of awards, including Best Playwright, Pittsburgh New Works Festival; Verna Safran Prize (Best Play), Theatre Odyssey One Act Play Festival; and 1st Place, Center for Literary Arts One-Act Play Competition, Frostburg State University. His work has been shortlisted for The Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama Writing; and named a finalist in the St. Louis Actors Studio's LaBute New Play Festival.
How can I support your site?
You support Read My Play by using it. The more active, thoughtful playwrights who become registered users the more powerful our site becomes. If you find Read My Play useful in your writing, we hope you'll make a donation to support the site's maintenance and development of future features. Online payments are processed securely by Stripe, and your card details won't be shared with Read My Play.
