Writer Testimonials

"If you write, you are a writer."

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Drew, these are fantastic. Thank you so much! It’s cheered me up, as I lie on the sofa with the flu or Covid or something… Good to know I’m broadly going in the right direction, and there are some great pointers here for me to work on.

Sensitivity Read on a queer thriller pilot screenplay

Hi Drew, 

Thank you SO much. You’re wonderful to provide such a close reading & positivity. Your encouragement means a lot. 

If it’s okay I’d like to include you in my Acknowledgments? 

Okay, I’m off to lock my self in my study and rewrite these scenes. I LoVe the fact it’s June, such a great idea to include this. 

Mini Sensitivity Read for a debut crime novel with a prominent gay character

Thank you so much Drew for the thoughtful and clear comments! I've only been through once so far and will be going through in more detail and making changes this weekend so will likely have a few questions then!

Just wanted to say thank you though! 

Sensitivity Read for a spicy Christmas novella

Dear Drew,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and comprehensive sensitivity report and suggestions. I’m incredibly grateful for your time and insights. You’ve helped me to understand Griff more deeply, and the manuscript will be so much stronger for it. We could not have found a better reader and your experience in aged care is so helpful. 

Sensitivity Read via Harper Collins for a novel about an elder gay man.

Thank you so much, Drew!

I wasn't expecting such thorough, thoughtful notes for a mini-read, but I'm blown away!

This is truly going to help so much with editing.

Mini Sensitivity Read for a spicy romantasy

Thank you so much for your attention and care with my work. I found your insight incredibly helpful. I'm still mulling it all over, but I appreciate your thorough and compassionate approach. 

I think your authenticity/sensitivity read service is indispensable for authors.

Thanks again, and I'll reach back out if I have any specific questions or need clarification on your feedback

Sensitivity Read for a short queer romance story

Thank you!

I just read your general commentary; it’s a relief to hear your thoughtful words, AND your email from your business address.

Sensitivity Read for a gay love story set between the 80s and present day.

That was fantastic, thorough, and kind feedback, and will definitely be implementing a lot of those suggestions. It was great learning more (the animal terms! Omg I love that so much. I’ve heard of bears but not the others). 

I am so grateful you had the time to look at my book 🙏 And glad you enjoyed it.

Sensitivity Read on a cosy fantasy novel

Thank you again for this service – please do not underestimate how hugely valuable it is!! Not just in giving me confidence to write queer characters, but just reading your feedback gives such insight generally.

Sensitivity read on an historical farce with queer characters.

I want to say a very big thank you for the insights and observations you've made throughout. I want Reunion to work for both queer and non-queer readers (which can be a tough call when trope wrangling) but that's the point of authenticity. I love the way you've been honest and uncensored about the sex stuff, that's exactly the level of frankness that works for me.

Sensitivity Read for a MM romance novel

Hi Drew,

A thousand thank-yous for your thorough and thoughtful feedback! I am super into the suggestions for improvement, and delighted to know that much of what I was attempting to do with these characters landed for you...

This all gives me a firm direction for a final edit before trying to get this thing published.

Sensitivity Read for a queer male conversion therapy novel

You’re a star. Thanks very much for your thoughts. It’s all been really helpful.

Sensitivity Read slash alpha read on the opening 3 chapters of a historical comedy with lgbtq+ characters

Recent senstivity reads include: Comedy lgbtq+ information book for DK Books,

Sensitivity read on a gay rom-com spec feature script,

I just want to say thank you so much - I found your notes extremely helpful. I'm pretty much going to explore every suggestion you made because as I was reading them, they just completely made sense

Sensitivity Read for a feature screenplay with several gay characters

Many thanks for this detailed and extensive feedback. This is a real help!

I really appreciate your input and suggestions here, they are invaluable. I'll most certainly take on board your points.

Sensitivity Read for a short moment in a chapter between two gay men

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can't say enough about how helpful you are. I love your comments/thoughts/ideas. I will definitely use them.

I would love your thoughts on the sequel once it is complete.

Sensitivity Read for a period story with a bisexual male MC

Thank you so much so the insightful feedback and some amazing solutions to the problems you’ve noted... I know I’ve only peeked at it so far, but this was a fantastic experience. If you have a place for rave reviews, send it my way.

Thanks again for this amazing work of yours. I am recommending you far and wide.

Sensitivity Read for a Fantasy YA with a variety of lgbtq+ characters

I'm so lucky I found Drew to work with me on my first M/M romance novel. I loved my characters and story but wanted an authenticity reader to help me identify any problems or places I could improve the characters. I was nervous about the whole process and didn't know what to expect. Working with Drew was straightforward and stress-free. He commented on things I had done well, in addition to things I could improve on and lines that might be misunderstood in a negative way. His feedback was kind and thoughtful, and gave me insight into my characters and the queer community. I'm so glad to have done this process—it has helped me feel a thousand times better about publishing my story.

Sensitivity Read for a Fantasy Romance with a gay MC and bisexual love interest

Drew helped me with my m/m gay romance, DOWN TIME. Far from 'sanitising' my story, Drew helped me inject some added FILTH. Very much recommended.

Sensitivity Read for a M/M erotica short story

Thank you so much, Drew! Your notes will absolutely help me in my next draft and inspire me is exactly what you did. I'm glad you enjoyed the story. Your enthusiasm is encouraging and your positivity is contagious! Hands down the most delightful notes I've ever received.

LGBTQ+ Supernatural Feature Script (First ten pages)

 Thank you so, so much for your amazing (and speedy!) feedback, I appreciate it so much.  I’m really looking forward to diving into another draft with your super clear and useful notes.

Supernatural, 60 minute Pilot Script feedback

Asking Drew to critique not only my script but also my strengths and weaknesses as a writer was a very tall order, but Drew managed to pull it off. He spotted things about my writing style I had suspected, and worded everything in constructive rather than deconstructive ways that actually made me feel good about myself even though he was discussing my weaknesses. His indepth coverage of an early scene really helped set the flow of what was working and what should be looked out for. Importantly, he also spotted tropes I hadn't intended to convey and might otherwise have overlooked - such as the implication of "women hating women" trope as opposed to what was intended, Meritt viewing her creation as an object of curiosity rather than as a person. On the whole his insight was on point and has encouraged me to look at my script in a new light.

Supernatural, 60 min Pilot Script

Thanks so much for this. It feels like you've really taken on board what I'm trying to do with the story, and your detailed five-page analysis is thoughtful and considered and very accurately pinpoints the areas where the script could be improved. I've lived with this story for a while now and, as you know, that can mean you start to become blind to how else it could be; so your suggestions for development, including some more radical things that I hadn't considered previously, are going to prove very useful. It's helpful to get both big global notes and detailed specifics, even down to the level of formatting style. I'm used to writing to a brief and it can be a bit scary to launch out on your own stuff, which I think has resulted in a certain timidity in pushing the drama. You've come up with some great ideas on how to ramp it up, which have started some hares running: exactly what I was looking for. All of it will be of great help as I move forward with the script.

Drama, 60 min Pilot Script

Drew provided feedback on a feature script I’ve been working on for a few years. I felt he instantly understood what it was I was trying to achieve with the script and offered interesting and insightful suggestions which I will go on to use. He also gave some suggestions to make it more suitable as a spec script and also draw out more of the internal emotions from the characters. I loved his suggestions on how to up the conflict within the story, his fresh insight was invaluable, and I hope to use him again.

Queer, Period, Feature Script

There are notes and then there are Drew’s notes. I sent him my tv pilot to make sure my queer characters rang true and didn’t veer into tropes. What I got back was an insightful report on every aspect, from structure to dialogue to action descriptions. Before Drew’s notes this pilot placed in the Top 50 of competitions. Now, with a rewrite inspired by his observations, I have even higher hopes. Highly recommended for any writer, if there are queer characters in the script or not.

Queer, Period, 60 min Pilot Script

Drew provided very detailed and well-categorised feedback on my script and highlighting multiple ways of improving the sellability. I now have a lot to consider for the next round of editing. Thank you, Drew!

I was impressed by the extensive and detailed notes given by Drew which were broken down clearly for easy reference and containing avenues for future editing and cuts. Cheers, Drew!

Drama, 60 min Pilot Script

This is both the quickest and most detailed feedback I've ever received! Notes can be difficult to decipher, but Drew's notes were thorough, constructive, insightful and specific. Drew also pitched great ideas for punch-ups and areas of improvement. I would get feedback from Pride Reads again in a heartbeat.

Fantasy, Sitcom, 30 minut Pilot Script

Thank you so much, Drew! Your notes will absolutely help me in my next draft and inspire me is exactly what you did. I'm glad you enjoyed the story. Your enthusiasm is encouraging and your positivity is contagious! Hands down the most delightful notes I've ever received.

LGBTQ+ Supernatural Feature Script (First ten pages)

 Thank you so, so much for your amazing (and speedy!) feedback, I appreciate it so much.  I’m really looking forward to diving into another draft with your super clear and useful notes.

Supernatural, 60 minute Pilot Script feedback

 Thank you so much for this, really appreciated! Brilliant thorough feedback

LGBTQ+ Short Film Script

Thanks so much for reading this and for your considered feedback. It's really useful to hear, and even just to see the format this kind of script reading can take. Especially appreciate it as it was an unexpected addition.

LGBTQ+ Short Script

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and give feedback! 

All really helpful for my next draft. Love Pride Reads.

LGBTQ+ Fantasy, 60 min Pilot Script

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