Hire the Best Screenwriters in Illinois

I'm a highly communicative, detail-oriented writer, proofreader, and editor with 6+ years of experience creating and revising professional content for publication online. I'm also a classically trained screenwriter and director with a collaborative spirit and a sharp eye for story. If you're trying to draw in readers, enhance your story, or present your ideas with clarity and effect, I'm here to help you nail it! • I've written and edited over 15 feature-length and pilot scripts for clients, and provided coverage for more. Including my own scripts, the number passes 30. • I've proofread and edited three fiction books, 20+ historical and life science blog posts, 50+ ASTM eLearning courses, 100+ AI generated video descriptions, 200 character backstories, and more. • I'll work hard to ensure your writing perfectly represents the most important thing: you! • Collaboration and communication are paramount—we'll always be on the same page.

Top Skills: PROOFREADING & EDITING SCREENPLAY WRITING, FEEDBACK & POLISHING COPY EDITING & COPYWRITING I help clients strengthen both written content and screenwriting projects with a blend of editorial precision, creative judgment, and audience-focused communication. Whether the goal is to publish, submit, promote, pitch, or develop a stronger story, I help make the work clearer, sharper, and more effective. For PROOFREADING/EDITING and copy projects, I focus on clarity, flow, tone, readability, and reader impact while preserving your voice. Whether the work needs a light polish, deeper revision, or stronger messaging, I help make the final piece cleaner, more professional, and more effective. As a multi-award-winning SCREENWRITER, I also bring strong story instincts to script and film-related projects. I can help with original screenplays, writing from client story ideas, script proofreading, script editing (dialogue, scene work, formatting, etc.), thoughtful feedback/notes, pitch decks, and more! See list of services below. My original feature screenplay NEVER AGAIN, a drama/thriller, is currently in development with BRITT ROBERTSON and JACK KILMER set to star, with PENELOPE ANN MILLER and JOSH HENDERSON in supporting roles. I'm grateful that my screenwriting work has earned recognition from competitions and festivals including the Burbank International Film Festival, Big Apple Film Festival, HollyShorts, Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Hollywood Horrorfest. My scripts have also received multiple high ratings with scores of 80%+ from industry pros including ABC/Disney, Lighthouse Pictures, director of Romeo Must Die and Doom, Zero Gravity, Captivate Entertainment, WeScreenplay Pro, and Slated. I am a cum laude graduate in humanities and literature, hold a Juris Doctor, and spent four years as an English tutor helping students strengthen grammar, clarity, and essay writing. I am also the author of two novels in The Teddy Bear Chronicles quirky crime thriller series. SERVICES I OFFER: ✏️ Proofreading and editing for books, manuscripts, articles, essays, short stories, and academic writing 📝 Copywriting and copy editing for blogs, websites, marketing materials, and digital content 🔍 Copy analysis for clarity, tone, structure, and flow, including revisions 🎬 Screenplay writing, original or from client’s story idea, proofreading, editing, and polishing 🎥 Content review for feature scripts, TV scripts, and shorts — feedback notes 📄 Pitch decks, treatments, and series bibles 🖥️ Delivery with or without tracked changes Rate note: My posted hourly rate is a general baseline. Proofreading, editing, and copy-editing projects typically begin at $23/hour, while most copywriting, screenplay writing, script feedback, and consulting begin at $32/hour, depending on scope and complexity. Tools: Google Docs, Word, Final Draft, Fade In, Stripo, Buffer, and more! If you need strong writing, careful editing, polished copy, script support, or honest, constructive feedback that helps your work reach a higher level, I would love to help. Let’s make your work as strong and polished as it can be. ✨ 👏About Donnalyn's scriptwriting... "No overall issues with the formatting... The margins, justifying, and all standard screenplay formatting are HANDLED EXPERTLY." -Jeremy Hentschel (professional and creative voice with over seven years of entertainment industry experience)

I'm an award-winning screenwriter/filmmaker, published author, ghostwriter, and former print journalist (so I'm able to write effective press releases). Affiliate writer at Horror Writers Association. I'm particularly interested in writing screenplays, true crime research and writing, ghostwriting, and creating book trailers for authors.

JD Vines is a multi-talented, award-winning, published writer, working as a full-time freelance book, screenplay and content writer. He writes under his own name, pen name, and as a ghostwriter. JD has written over thirty books and a dozen award-winning screenplays. His books are primarily non-fiction narratives in the biographic and health genres. He also writes novels. His screenplays include sitcoms, period dramas and features based on real people and real events. His published titles include: "The Darkness within Prison Walls" "The Afghanistan Tragedy" "Intermittent Fasting for Life" "Anxiety and the Whole Person" "Shabd Yoga and Sant Mat" "Governor John Stelle - Father of the GI Bill" "Bibb and the Candyman" "Boat People Love Story" "Melrose Bleak" "Enlightened Seasonal Juicing Recipe Book" "The Ancient Origins of Shiv Yoga" "Tales From the Trails - Hike to a Better World" "The African American Inventors Hall of Fame" "In Love and War" Content-wise, he has established himself as an authority in the areas of dietary supplements, nutrition, and natural health. As a life-long religious scholar, he also writes on world religion, psychology and philosophy. He is especially knowledgeable in the following areas: --Natural Health and Dietary Food Supplements --World Religion, Psychology and Philosophy --Meditation and Yoga --Massage, Bodywork, and Natural Healing --Market Research and General Research --Real Estate and Entrepreneurship

Award winning screenwriter. My greatest success was the movie "We Need to Talk About Kevin" which opened the Cannes Film Festival, and for which I won the British Screenwriters Guild Award for Best Screenplay. I also supervised music for the film, finding all the tracks that were used as well as securing the involvement of Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood. I was also the music supervisor and exec producer for the BAFTA winning short film "The Swimmer." I continue to write original screenplays for TV and film.

I am deeply passionate about creative endeavors that have the potential to positively impact the world, which is why I chose to pursue a degree in the business of film and television at DePaul University. With a concentration in directing, though it is my primary focus, I often find myself immersed in screenwriting, producing, and acting. Currently, I am directing and producing social media content for HS Dent LLC, as well as spearheading a Western animation project while continually refining my storytelling skills through writing. My true specialty lies in communicating a vision and creating a visceral connection for the audience. If you have any projects aligned with my expertise, I'm eager to collaborate and bring stories to life.