Screenwriting Tip: Advice from a Professional Script Reader

“An experienced pro reader always knows a ‘bad’ script within the first 10 pages, usually within the first 3, and often on the first page.”

When writing a screenplay, I like to imagine THIS is the person who is going to be reading and providing coverage on it. They are already exhausted and hating their life when they crack open my script. I need to write something so good, it pierces their veil of cynicism and sucks them into the story.

Recently, I posted an article in which I answered a reader question: “Is it useful to read a bad script to see what not to do?” Barbara Schiffman posted a helpful response. Reprinted here by permission: