I heard this tip a while back. Read your script backward (start at the beginning of the final paragraph, then read each paragraph until you reach the start of the script). It'll help you catch story problems and typos. I read a script backward at the end of rewriting to catch anything I might’ve missed during rewrites. Reading backward would probably work with a synopsis too.
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Hi Maurice, does that really work?
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Hi, Billy Kwack. Yep. I've done it a lot of times.
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Maybe it won't work for me, but I'll try
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Great, Billy Kwack! Let me know what you think about it once you try it out.
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Hi Maurice, cool
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I always print it out and read with a red pen in my hand. I don’t think I have the patience to read a whole script backwards.
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I saw this tip, many years ago and am very pleased with the result. I have always read my novels and scripts backward. It's a great way to pick up errors (spelling, typos, words that you would rather not use) that you would easily read over. When you read forward, your mind does automatic corrections so that you don't notice the problem.
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Reading a script backward takes more time than reading it regularly, Mike Boas. I'm not sure how much more time. Printing out a script and going through it with a red pen is my favorite way to rewrite.
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Hi, Wayne Jarman. Glad to hear it works for you!
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Maurice Vaughan I do the red pen thing but in a PDF with red and green line mark up for parts I cut or highlighted as good. Also Final Draft's script notes are super useful for me.
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Oh yeah, Michael Dzurak. I forgot about the red pen thing in Adobe Acrobat. I use it sometimes. I have Final Draft, but I haven't tried the script notes. Thanks for the idea.
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I started walking backward at the park for a new high and have become quite a pro. It has untold benefits. Now, I will try reading backward. :-) Thank you, Maurice.
You're welcome, K Kalyanaraman. I've never thought about walking backward. Thanks for the idea. Hope reading your scripts backward helps!