People frown when I tell them I read backward. “You jump to the end to find out what happens?” they asked shocked. “Isn’t that against the rules of your industry?!”
I smile and chuckle before answering. No I don’t. And yes it is (at least in my opinion). Reading backward isn’t about skipping content or finding a quicker way to the conclusion, I explain. It’s the exact opposite, actually. It’s about reading every piece of content and understanding how each piece plays a role in the whole of the book.
And that’s when I get blank stares. And sometimes crazy looks. And more frowns. In general, I usually see a complete state of confusion.
Perhaps I should explain…
It’s true that a book or magazine’s most exciting content is often found at/near the end (book reviews in Publishers Weekly, for example, are behind all the industry news and commercials). But I never make such a detour. I like to journey through books and experience all the character nuances and plot twists because that experience makes the ending more satisfying. I like to read the information at the beginning of a periodical because what is reported there may influence the opinions I read in the editorials later. Reading backward is NOT jumping to the end.
So what is it?
Reading backward is a proofreading technique—maybe one that you already know. One of my first employers in the publishing industry taught me this technique and I’ve used it with every composition, every project since. She showed me how to proof sentence-by-sentence, starting with the last sentence of the document. She believed that starting at the beginning of the text made it too easy to get caught up in the flow of the language or the movement of the paragraph. But when you read one sentence at a time, starting with the last sentence in the paragraph, you have to understand that sentence apart from the sentences that surround it. Reading backward helps you study sentences more carefully so you can find—and fix—grammar and punctuation errors more efficiently.
It’s a helpful technique (one of many I’m sure) but I like it because it applies to more than just writing. From my job inside a publishing house, I don’t write as much as all of you—perhaps the occasional article and (what should be more than occasional) blog post. But I also read backward when I’m designing an ad, brainstorming a book title, drafting a marketing plan, or even composing an email. It’s all about perspective… learning to see things in different light, learning to anticipate how different people will experience your work in different ways.
Every eye looks at the same thing differently. I’m looking at an Amish fiction novel on my desk right now. The first thing I see is the turned head of the main character, which makes me think she’s looking for something… or someone. But you might see the dark storm clouds in the background or the pensive look of her eyes, either of which could suggest danger or brewing trouble. Your perspective—your interpretation—will give you a different experience. The same is true of the people who read your books… or see the ads that promote your books… or watch your video trailers… or….
So here are a few questions to consider: do you think about different perspectives when you write? When you promote your writing? How do find the balance that lets you communicate your message but also allows your readers to experience your work in different ways?
It is a true joy to hear from others how something you created has affected their lives in ways you never imagined. Writing different perspectives can only increase the appeal of your book and nurture those different experiences. Reading backward is my trick. What’s yours?
