First Read

A writing collaborator that learns your voice before it reads a word of your script

Intermediate
Screenshot of First Read, A writing collaborator that learns your voice before it reads a word of your script

What is First Read?

First Read is a screenwriting development tool that interviews you about a project, builds a Voice Profile from your answers and existing pages, then evaluates every stage from concept to script against that profile. Includes brainstorming, structured notes, document generation and FDX export for TV, film and vertical drama.

First Read is a development tool for screenwriters built around a Voice Profile rather than a prompt box. The process opens with a structured, adaptive interview about one specific project. First Read asks about your taste, your deal-breakers and the unwritten rules you write by, and it also reads pages you have already written. From those answers it assembles a detailed profile of how you think about that project, which then becomes the standard every later stage is measured against. In practice the work moves through a guided pipeline shaped by format: series, film or vertical drama. Brainstorm and note-giving tools sit alongside that pipeline at every stage, and generated documents (project bibles, character bibles, pitch decks, one-pagers) are produced against your profile rather than from a generic template. The output is intended for production, with industry-standard FDX export for traditional TV and film work as well as vertical drama. Where First Read generates, it generates against your stated standards, then interrogates the choices you make. It suits working and aspiring screenwriters who want a collaborator that pushes back instead of a machine that hands over finished pages. The stated philosophy is that you write and the tool evaluates, so the drafting stays with you. It was built by a writer with 15 years of TV credits, and the beta is deliberately small, with 31 writers reported as of 19 September 2026. Against general purpose chatbots, the difference is persistence: the profile carries your voice across every stage of one project rather than resetting with each session. On data, the site states that uploaded material trains no AI, whether its own systems or the third-party providers it uses (Anthropic and OpenAI), without express written consent. Documents you keep are cryptographically signed so anyone can verify which profile a document was made against and that neither has changed, though the record stops short of proving who typed the words.

How do you use First Read?

  1. 1Create your account and start the free week
    Sign up with no card and no invite code. The trial covers all three formats, so you can pick the one that matches your project after you are inside.
  2. 2Name your project and sit for the interview
    Choose a series, film or vertical project and answer the adaptive interview. Expect questions about taste, deal-breakers and the rules you write by, all tied to this project rather than writing in general.
  3. 3Add pages you have already written
    Supply existing material so the profile reflects how you actually write, not only how you describe your writing. The site states this material is not used to train any AI.
  4. 4Review the generated Voice Profile
    First Read returns a written profile of your creative vision for the project. Read it closely and check that its description of your voice and standards matches your intent before you build on it.
  5. 5Work the pipeline from spark to script
    Move through the stages for your format, using Brainstorm and Get Notes whenever you are stuck. Each choice is evaluated against the profile, and the drafting remains yours.
  6. 6Generate documents and export the draft
    Produce bibles, one-pagers or pitch decks from your sessions, then export the script in FDX for your writing software.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • The Voice Profile is built from your own answers and prior pages, so feedback reflects your stated standards rather than generic screenwriting adviceAI
  • Feedback is genuinely critical: vague choices and safe options get challenged instead of acceptedAI
  • Covers the full development path (brainstorm, notes, bibles, pitch decks) with FDX export for production draftsAI
  • Clear data stance: no training on your work, private profiles, and signed records that show which profile a document was made againstAI
  • Built by a writer with 15 years of TV credits, and the format pipeline accounts for vertical drama as well as traditional TV and filmAI

Cons

  • Only 31 writers in the beta as of 19 September 2026, so the tool is early and the community is tinyAI
  • The signed record verifies which profile a document was made against, not who wrote it, so it is weaker proof of authorship than it may first appearAI
  • The interview and profile setup demand real effort up front; writers who want instant pages will find the deliberate pace frustratingAI
  • No collaboration, sharing or export options beyond FDX are described, which limits use by writing roomsAI
  • No public roadmap, changelog or documentation beyond the process pages, so beta behaviour may shift without noticeAI

How much does First Read cost?

Free trial

7 days free with no credit card and no invite code, covering all three formats. It is framed as beta access rather than a limited feature trial.

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Pricing

Open beta with a 7 day free trial requiring no card. After the trial the listed price is $20.99 per month. The homepage does not describe annual plans, tiered features or cancellation terms.

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Integrations

No integrations are listed. The only named third parties are model providers (Anthropic and OpenAI), which the site says do not train on your work. FDX export is the stated handoff to script software.

Features

Adaptive project interview, generated Voice Profile, a guided pipeline from concept to script for series, film and vertical drama, Brainstorm and Get Notes at any stage, document generation for bibles, pitch decks and one-pagers, FDX export, and cryptographically signed records linking documents to the profile they were made against.

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Frequently asked questions about First Read

  • How much does First Read cost?
    Open beta with a 7 day free trial requiring no card. After the trial the listed price is $20.99 per month. The homepage does not describe annual plans, tiered features or cancellation terms.
  • Does First Read offer a free trial?
    7 days free with no credit card and no invite code, covering all three formats. It is framed as beta access rather than a limited feature trial.
  • How do you use First Read?
    The walkthrough on this page covers 6 steps: 1. Create your account and start the free week 2. Name your project and sit for the interview 3. Add pages you have already written 4. Review the generated Voice Profile 5. Work the pipeline from spark to script 6. Generate documents and export the draft.
  • What platforms does First Read support?
    First Read is available on Web App.
  • What does First Read integrate with?
    No integrations are listed. The only named third parties are model providers (Anthropic and OpenAI), which the site says do not train on your work. FDX export is the stated handoff to script software.
  • What are the limitations of First Read?
    Only 31 writers in the beta as of 19 September 2026, so the tool is early and the community is tiny. The signed record verifies which profile a document was made against, not who wrote it, so it is weaker proof of authorship than it may first appear. The interview and profile setup demand real effort up front; writers who want instant pages will find the deliberate pace frustrating.

Status

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Added10/21/2026

Platforms

Web App

Pricing

Free TrialSubscription