Hollywood rejects over 99% of screenplays it receives. Here’s why yours might be one of them.
The film industry is notoriously competitive, with thousands of screenplays floating around Hollywood at any given moment.
As a screenplay consultant with over a decade of experience reading for major studios, I’ve witnessed firsthand the heartbreaking mistakes that send promising scripts straight to the rejection pile.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the career-killing errors that separate amateur screenwriters from professionals.
By understanding what not to do, you’ll immediately elevate your screenplay above the competition and dramatically increase your chances of getting that coveted green light.
Whether you’re crafting your first screenplay or you’ve been writing for years, this guide will help you identify and eliminate the red flags that make industry readers close your script before reaching page 10.
First Impression Failures: The Title Page & Opening Pages
The 60-Second Judgment
Professional script readers make snap judgments about your screenplay within the first minute. Why? Because they’ve trained themselves to recognize patterns that indicate amateur writing. Your title page and opening pages are your screenplay’s job interview – dress them properly.
Title Page Red Flags
Nothing screams “amateur” louder than these title page mistakes:
- Including WGA registration numbers (professionals know their work is protected without advertising it)
- Adding copyright symbols (©) and “All Rights Reserved” notices
- Listing your contact information directly on the title page instead of a separate contact page
- Using fancy fonts, colors, or images
- Including draft numbers for a spec script
First Page Formatting Disasters
Professional readers can spot formatting issues instantly:
- Incorrect margin settings (industry standard is very specific)
- Improper scene heading format (INT./EXT. LOCATION – TIME)
- Using the wrong font (anything other than 12-point Courier)
- Inconsistent spacing between elements
- Missing or improper sluglines
Opening Scene Mistakes
Your opening scene establishes more than your story—it demonstrates your storytelling abilities:
- Starting with a character waking up (the most overused opening in screenwriting)
- Opening with a dream sequence without clear indication
- Beginning with heavy exposition or voice-over explaining the world
- Introducing too many characters at once
- Starting with a flashback before establishing the present timeline
Case Study: Professional vs. Amateur Openings
Amateur Opening:
FADE IN:
We see a bedroom. It's messy. JOHN (30s, average looking) is sleeping. His alarm clock rings. He wakes up, looks around, and sighs deeply. Another day begins.
JOHN (V.O.)
My life wasn't always this boring. Let me tell you how I got here...
Professional Opening:
INT. PAWNSHOP - DAY
Fluorescent lights flicker above rows of forgotten treasures. JOHN HAYES (35) slides a tarnished wedding ring across the counter, avoiding the clerk's eyes.
PAWNBROKER
Third time this month.
John's fingers linger on the ring before he pulls them away.
JOHN
It's the last thing I've got left.
The professional opening immediately establishes character, setting, conflict, and visual storytelling without exposition.
Structural Story Pitfalls
The “Wandering First Act” Syndrome
Your first act has one job: set up the story, protagonist, and central conflict before launching into the second act. Common mistakes include:
- Taking too long to establish the inciting incident (should happen by page 10-15)
- Including backstory that doesn’t directly impact the main plot
- Failing to clearly establish the protagonist’s want vs. need
- Not setting up the stakes high enough to justify a feature film
- Introducing subplots before solidifying the main plot
Inactive Protagonists: The Kiss of Death
Nothing kills a screenplay faster than a protagonist who doesn’t drive the action:
- Characters who react to events rather than making choices
- Protagonists who have things happen to them instead of making things happen
- Main characters without clear wants/goals
- Heroes who are rescued rather than rescuing themselves
- Protagonists who don’t change by the end of the story
Scene Purpose Problems
Every scene must earn its place in your screenplay by:
- Advancing the plot
- Revealing character
- Providing necessary information
- Creating/increasing conflict
Amateur screenplays often include scenes that:
- Exist solely for clever dialogue
- Show daily routines without story relevance
- Introduce characters who never return or impact the story
- Include cool visuals with no narrative purpose
- End exactly where they began with no change
Misplaced Plot Points
Industry readers expect certain story beats at specific points in your screenplay:
- Inciting incident around page 10-15
- First act turn around page 25-30
- Midpoint reversal around page 55-60
- Low point/crisis around page 75-85
- Climax around page 90-100
Placing these elements in unexpected places without deliberate purpose signals structural weakness.
Character Creation Catastrophes
One-Dimensional Character Indicators
Professional screenwriters create multidimensional characters through:
- Contradictions and internal conflicts
- Specific character voice and speech patterns
- Actions that reveal character rather than dialogue explaining it
- Detailed character descriptions that reveal personality, not just physical attributes
- Characters who make surprising yet believable choices
Amateur scripts often feature:
- Characters defined by a single trait (the funny one, the smart one)
- Stereotypical representations without subversion
- Characters who all sound like the writer
- Physical descriptions focused only on appearance (especially problematic for female characters)
Dialogue Disasters
Bad dialogue breaks immersion faster than almost anything else:
- On-the-nose dialogue where characters directly state their feelings/motivations
- Expository dialogue that exists solely to inform the audience
- Unrealistic speech patterns (nobody uses others’ names repeatedly in conversation)
- Monologues that halt the story’s momentum
- Dialogue that doesn’t match the character’s education level or background
Example of Amateur Dialogue:
SARAH
I'm angry at you, John, because you forgot our anniversary yesterday, which was June 15th, and we've been married for exactly 5 years now.
JOHN
I know, Sarah. I've been so busy at my job as a stockbroker that I completely forgot our special day. I feel terrible about this oversight.
Professional Revision:
Sarah slams a drawer shut. Sets down a framed wedding photo, face-down.
JOHN
I can pick up dinner from that Italian place you like.
SARAH
You know what I liked? Getting married. Remember that?
She tosses an old card on the table between them: "Happy Anniversary."
Character Introduction Mistakes
First impressions matter. Avoid these character introduction pitfalls:
- Introducing characters without visual elements (just names and ages)
- Giving detailed backstory upon first appearance
- Describing characters in terms of actors (“a Brad Pitt type”)
- Introducing too many characters at once
- Using clichéd character introductions (looking in mirrors, etc.)
Technical Formatting Failures
Scene Heading Mistakes
Proper scene headings follow strict conventions:
- INT. or EXT. (interior or exterior)
- LOCATION
- TIME OF DAY (typically DAY or NIGHT, sometimes DAWN or DUSK)
Common amateur mistakes:
- Overusing CONTINUOUS instead of establishing new locations
- Including unnecessary weather details in sluglines
- Writing mini-scenes without proper headings
- Using camera directions in headings
- Creating vague locations (“SOMEWHERE” instead of specific settings)
Action/Description Block Formatting
Professional action blocks:
- Remain under 4 lines whenever possible
- Use present tense, active voice
- Focus on visual, filmable actions
- Avoid directing actors (“angrily,” “sadly”)
- Maintain white space for readability
Dialogue Formatting Problems
Dialogue formatting must follow industry standards:
- Character name centered in ALL CAPS
- Dialogue below, properly indented
- Parentheticals used sparingly and only when necessary
- Character extensions (V.O., O.S., CONT’D) used appropriately
- Transitions only when absolutely necessary
Parenthetical Overuse
Parentheticals should be:
- Used sparingly to clarify tone only when essential
- Kept to one or two words
- Never used to describe physical actions (those belong in action lines)
- Not used for directions that any competent actor would understand from context
Transition Overkill
Amateur scripts often overuse:
- CUT TO:
- DISSOLVE TO:
- FADE IN:/FADE OUT:
- SMASH CUT TO:
- MATCH CUT TO:
Professional screenwriters know that scene changes are assumed to be cuts unless otherwise specified. Transitions should only be used when the visual transition itself is significant to the storytelling.
Visual Storytelling Mistakes
“Telling” Instead of “Showing”
Screenplays are visual mediums. Avoid:
- Describing emotions instead of showing behaviors that imply those emotions
- Explaining backstory instead of revealing it through action or dialogue
- Using voice-over to explain what should be visual
- Describing character thoughts directly
- Writing what the audience should feel rather than what they should see
Camera Direction Overreach
Unless you’re directing your own script, avoid:
- Specific camera directions (CLOSE UP, PAN LEFT, DOLLY IN)
- Editing instructions (CUT TO, DISSOLVE TO)
- Shot lists embedded in action
- Detailed lighting or sound design notes
- Anything that usurps the director’s role
Unfilmable Content
Screenplays should only include what can be filmed:
- Character thoughts (unless in voice-over)
- Historical contexts or explanations
- Future events not shown in the script
- Detailed sensory descriptions beyond sight and sound
- Abstract concepts without visual representation
Pacing Problems
Screenplay pacing requires balance:
- First acts that take too long to establish the premise
- Second acts that sag with repetitive obstacles
- Third acts that resolve too quickly after extensive buildup
- Action sequences described in excessive detail, slowing the read
- Dialogue scenes without visual components
Visual Redundancy
Avoid repeating information across dialogue and visuals:
- Characters narrating actions we can clearly see
- Explanatory dialogue that duplicates visual information
- Flashbacks that repeat information already established
- Characters explaining their emotions when their actions already show them
- Visual metaphors explained through dialogue
Language & Style Errors
Flowery, Novelistic Description
Screenplays require precise, visual language:
- Excessive adjectives and adverbs
- Poetic or literary flourishes
- Internal character analyses
- Extended metaphors
- Descriptions that couldn’t be filmed
Amateur Example:
Sarah walks languorously through the verdant garden, her soul weeping with the melancholy of lost love, each footstep a painful reminder of John's betrayal. The flowers seem to mock her with their vibrant hues, a stark contrast to the gray emptiness filling her broken heart.
Professional Revision:
Sarah moves through the garden. Stops. Pulls John's photo from her pocket, tears it in half, and lets the pieces scatter across the roses.
Vocabulary Show-offs and Technical Jargon
Unless character-specific, avoid:
- Obscure vocabulary that interrupts the reading flow
- Technical jargon without explanation (unless integral to the story)
- Foreign languages without translation or context
- Industry-specific terminology that most readers wouldn’t know
- Affected literary style that calls attention to the writing rather than the story
Grammar and Tense Issues
Professional screenplays maintain:
- Present tense throughout
- Active voice (not passive)
- Consistent point of view
- Proper spelling and grammar
- Correct homonym usage (your/you’re, their/there/they’re)
Overused Emphasis
Amateur scripts often overuse:
- ALL CAPS for objects or sounds
- Underlining for emphasis
- Exclamation points!!!
- Bold or italicized text
- Multiple question marks???
Professional writers know that emphatic devices lose impact when overused. Reserve them for truly significant moments.
Marketing & Submission Blunders
Query Letter Mistakes
Avoid these query letter pitfalls:
- Comparing your script to recent blockbusters (“It’s the next Marvel movie!”)
- Claiming your script will make millions
- Including your life story or writing journey
- Using hyperbole (“This script will change cinema forever”)
- Addressing letters generically rather than to specific individuals
Submission Protocol Violations
Follow industry standards:
- Submit only when requested
- Provide exactly what was requested (synopsis, treatment, or full script)
- Follow formatting guidelines precisely
- Include only requested materials (no headshots, concept art, etc.)
- Respect exclusivity periods if mentioned
Targeting the Wrong People
Research is essential:
- Submitting comedy scripts to production companies that only make horror
- Pitching R-rated content to family-friendly studios
- Sending unsolicited scripts to agencies with “no unsolicited material” policies
- Targeting producers without the budget to make your type of film
- Submitting directly to established screenwriters asking for “collaboration”
The Path Forward: Fixing These Mistakes
Self-Editing Checklist
Before submitting your screenplay, verify:
- Proper formatting throughout
- Active protagonist with clear goals
- Every scene advances plot or character
- First 10 pages grab attention
- Dialogue sounds natural when read aloud
- Story structure follows industry expectations
- Technical elements (sluglines, action, dialogue) follow conventions
- Visual storytelling dominates over exposition
- Characters have distinct voices and motivations
- Pace builds appropriately toward the climax
Professional Feedback Options
Consider investing in:
- Professional script coverage services
- Screenwriting contests with feedback
- Peer review through screenwriting groups
- Script consultants with industry experience
- Black List evaluations
Rewrite Strategies
Professional screenwriters know that:
- First drafts are never submission-ready
- Specific problem areas require targeted rewrites
- “Killing your darlings” (removing favorite but unnecessary elements) is essential
- Character arcs often need strengthening in revisions
- Dialogue typically needs tightening and naturalizing
When to Abandon a Screenplay vs. When to Persist
Consider abandoning when:
- The concept itself is fundamentally flawed
- Multiple professional readers identify the same major issues
- You’ve completed 3+ major rewrites without significant improvement
- The marketplace has dramatically changed since conception
- You’ve lost passion for the story
Consider persisting when:
- Feedback identifies specific, fixable issues
- The core concept continues to excite readers
- You continue to receive encouraging responses despite flaws
- Industry trends align with your screenplay’s genre/approach
- You remain passionate about the story
Conclusion
Avoiding these 101 screenwriting mistakes won’t guarantee success in Hollywood’s competitive landscape, but it will dramatically improve your chances.
The difference between amateur and professional screenwriters often isn’t talent—it’s craft, discipline, and understanding industry expectations.
Remember:
Every successful screenwriter started exactly where you are now. The ones who succeed aren’t necessarily the most talented—they’re the ones who learn from mistakes, continuously improve their craft, and persist despite rejection.
Your screenplay deserves the best possible chance at success. By eliminating these common errors, you’ve already placed yourself ahead of 90% of the competition.
Now go write, rewrite, and show Hollywood what you can do.
Bonus: Quick Script Analysis
Amateur Version:
INT. OFFICE - DAY
John sits at his desk, looking sad and defeated. His BOSS walks in.
BOSS
(angry)
John, I need that report immediately! The clients are waiting and you're just sitting there looking depressed!
JOHN
(sadly)
I'm sorry, sir. I've been going through a difficult divorce and my concentration hasn't been great lately. I'll get it to you as soon as possible.
BOSS
Well, hurry up! Your personal problems aren't my concern!
Boss exits angrily. John sighs deeply and looks at a photo of his ex-wife on his desk.
Professional Revision:
INT. OFFICE - DAY
Papers cascade from John's overflowing inbox. He stares at a half-written report, cursor blinking accusingly.
His BOSS appears in the doorway, checks his watch.
BOSS
Clients are here.
John minimizes a divorce attorney's email on his screen.
JOHN
Ten minutes.
BOSS
Had ten minutes yesterday.
The Boss drops another file on John's desk. A framed photo tips over - John catches it face-down without looking.
The professional version conveys the same information but through visual storytelling rather than on-the-nose dialogue and emotional direction.
Remember: in screenwriting, what you don’t write is often as important as what you do.