So, you've picked out what you plan to read and it's time to prepare your script. Here are some tips I've learned on the road this year sharing The Girl Who Fell From the Sky (Algonquin Books) at different venues across the country--I hope you'll find this helpful:
1. Create a word document of the excerpts you've selected.
Choose an easily readable font like Times New Roman and enlarge the text to 14- or 16-point font.
The larger font will make it easier for you to see an any light.
2. Make your text look like poetry on the page.
I create line breaks where I plan to pause, take a breath, or create emphasis. Below is an example from a page of one of my scripts.
Be sure to pay special attention to your page breaks when creating the script. You want to create natural pauses so that you don't interrupt the flow of your reading.
3. Annotate your script with visual cues for dialogue, emphasis and flow.
Break out your colored markers: you're going to annotate your script now. First underline any text a character speaks. (Use a distinctly different color for each character. I use certain colors for male speakers and other colors for female speakers.)
I like to perform "voices" when I read so these annotations are super-helpful. Even if you're not going to use voices, you're going to want to subtly make a distinction between the prose and the character speaking. These annotations will remind you to do that.
I also underline with a black marker the words of phrases I want to emphasize. And I also use arrows to help me remember the pace of how I want to read a section. For example:
In this part of the script, the down arrow means pick up the pace. The double arrow means faster still. the diagonal up arrow means to raise my voice/intonation on this word/phrase. The arrow below the line means say with all one breath. The slash at the end of the line means pause. BTW: I have made up all of these symbols to score my script and they have meaning to me. You can devise your own symbols or use these.
4. Use notecards to cue you for your in-between banter.
I created notecards to cue me for the in-between banter. I have chosen to write out full sentences that kick off each point I want to make, but you can use bullet points instead. Whatever works best for you.
5. Assemble your script and put it in an attractive presentation folder.
I am fond of this folder I found at Staples. It's plastic and a fetching color (my trademark Heidi Blue) and folds open flat. It holds three-ring hole punhced paper and also has pockets in both the front and back in which I can store my notecards.
Before your reading, you will want to fold down the pages of your script over and over again so that they will stay flat. Before my reading, I tuck my notecards into the folder at the point at which I need them in the presentation (directly before or after an excerpt). A writer I know who is also a preacher recommends leaving the pages of your script loose so that you can slide th epages instead of turning them.
If you know that you have a podium, this is a good solution. It makes your presentation look seamless because you're not turning pages. However, often times you won't know whether you'll have a podium, tabletop, music stand, or have to hold the script in your hands. That's why I recommend the folder. You can always take it out if you wish.
Finally, I have a different folder for each of the excerpts /scripts that I read, but you can just tab the different sections if you'd like.
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You're almost ready to do your best reading yet. But first, make sure you have the right tools & equipment the day of to make the event a success. Stay tuned for that post.
Read my tips on How to Give a Good Reading Part 1 here.
