Hook introducing topic importance – Making mistakes in a screenplay may seem trivial to an aspiring writer starting out.
But even a tiny formatting error or a small logical lapse can turn off Hollywood producers faster than even the most far-fetched high-concept blockbuster idea can excite them.
In an industry that literally deals with thousands of competing scripts, with development budgets growing tighter by the day, you can ill afford rookie blunders if you want to stand out from the slush piles.
So if you have hopes of selling your screenplay or landing an agent to push your brilliance in front of A-list celebrities someday, then recognizing the most common errors is crucial before setting out.
Avoid silly mistakes now or risk never seeing your passion project hit the big screen or stream into living rooms across the world.
Intro explaining post purpose – This definitive guide will highlight the seven fundamental flaws that can quickly send your screenplay straight to the reject bin.
Use these lessons derived from painful Hollywood experiences to meticulously refine your next draft. Soon you’ll be able to craft genuinely enticing stories loaded with memorable characters that leap right off the page.
Forgetting A Clear, Compelling Narrative Spine
Far too many wannabe writers – dazzled by visions of CGI spectacles dancing in their heads – jump straight into world-building without laying the proper foundations first.
So it’s no wonder one of the biggest detriments of amateur screenplays is missing a coherent narrative drive or worse yet, forgetting one entirely.
Without the plot details that gradually reveal your protagonists’ motivations or clearly show the escalating conflicts they encounter, events will fall flat fast no matter how snappy the embedded jokes may be.
Even in comedy scripts, failures to consistently return to your core storyline or theme means all your supporting scenes drift purposeless and disjointed.
Specific examples like – Failing to introduce heroic leads properly or confusing side plots that go nowhere special leaving folks scanning for a storyline anchor that never comes.
Other symptoms of a missing narrative spine include a lack of consistent protagonist motive, fuzzy themes that wander vague expressions of “follow your dreams” without substance, and scenes that bear no consequences to the story beats just established.
Ways to fix – Start by summarizing your entire concept in 1-2 sharp sentences. Refine who specifically drives events and why amid the drama first.
List your core plot beats before building atmospherics and witty anecdotes. Review often to ensure every folded wrinkle aims back toward fully fleshed crises clearly impacting personalized characters that audiences can invest in early.
Lean On Boring Archetypes Instead of Dimensional Characters
Dimensional characters sell stories. Audiences crave peeking beneath the masks of multifaceted folks facing identifiable conflicts.
They seek layered depictions showcasing fears and entanglements that elevate flawed protagonists beyond boring stereotypes defined solely by their hero or victim labels.
So when viewers feel conversant only with the emergency workers or authority figures moving the plot alone, you remove their pathway to empathize.
Specific examples – Females who only fret over beauty or romance as motivation quickly bore modern crowds. Homophobic military officers spanning nothing but brick walls of hard-nosed bravado no longer captivate without deeper purposes fueling their warrior grit.
Single parents’ pleading helplessness also infuriates many as oversimplified tropes steeped in passive-aggressive pity grabs instead of embodying real people tackling tangled challenges with vigor.
Ways to fix – Build backstories that respect dimension beyond instant assumptions. Give women professionals equal status and worry over deadlines or taxes too amid chatty bonding over cocktails that pass Bechdel thresholds.
Let repressed personalities also own wisdom even when positions force uncompromising stands during disputes. Sprinkle clues to vulnerabilities, hobbies, or wounds beyond hot buttons that all sides contend with daily.
Leaning On Cliché Dialogue That Feels Unnatural
Few flaws flip focus faster away from the sheer originality of a concept itself than exchanges filled with familiar quips characters lob around thoughtlessly like ping pong volleys drilling readers’ eyes.
The roots behind such painful cliché-ridden messes swirl around stereotypes crafted as shortcuts to cement personae quickly at the sacrifice of resonance.
Their voices risk ringing hollow or worse, actively offend sectors of your necessary viewership by perpetuating the very narrow assumptions good entertainment helps erode.
Specific examples – Overcooked gender banter fouls creative opportunities by framing capable career women around dated takes regarding fashion obsessions or baby cravings.
References to hot tempers tied to red hair demeans through assaults on appearance irrelevant to behavior and delivered via insensitive verbal barbs.
Jokes riddled with racist, ableist, or homophobic slurs degrade into disgust no matter when or who utters them within troubled scripts feebly masked behind shouts of First Amendment freedoms.
Ways to fix – Promote positive bonds between eclectic communities already underrepresented across media channels enabling wider interest and impact.
Building affinity through characters cooperating amid adversity highlights shared values over divisions exploitation fuels. Tackle hot-button topics challenging biases if plots warrant but take care to grow not to glorify stereotypes existent story arcs aim to redeem wounded souls from.
Overusing Voiceovers Instead of Just Showing Exposition
Some screenwriters attempting sophisticated storytelling overestimate the audience’s patience for dense exposition detailing every motivation explicitly as if writing literature.
So they inject frequent voice-over (VO) dumps or forced flashback scenes galore attempting to keep viewers abreast of previous events influencing each player’s current moves. But unfortunately most fans process such artificial narrative pit stops as plodding distractions breaking the show’s momentum at best or condescending hand-holding at worst.
Specific examples – Ridley Scott’s otherwise legendary “Blade Runner” suffers under Harrison Ford’s monotonous narration framing dystopian future noir images that frankly showcase the world’s cyberpunk grit just fine without declarative context commanded constantly.
Oliver Stone tested even fans dedicated patience during the production of the film “Natural Born Killers” by layering countless format-bending satirical commercials and ’90s-style video journalism segments better left implied not directly recreated.
Ways to fix – First recognize that film operates as primarily a visual medium best geared for showing not explicitly telling every detail.
Streamline dense literary backstories through quick glimpses invested into symbolic objects, enigmatic flashbacks, or suggestive dialogue exchanges hinting at relevant history without derailing current act progression. Trust broad cues keep fans oriented enough to unpack revelations as they crest along the unfolding dramatic journey of growth.
Relying On Deus Ex Machina Cliffhangers
Among contrivances that shatter plausibility for astute viewers while disengaging their suspension of disbelief, few seem more creatively bankrupt than invoking sudden deus ex machina style magical interventions yanking characters from well-earned crisis consequences at the penultimate moment.
Such externally injected rescue tropes undermine whatever hard-fought solo strides towards redemption a protagonist may achieve by minimizing the earned results from their established agency so far.
Specific examples: Famous serial TV antihero Walter White escaping deadly desert isolation by the fortune of a remote-controlled automotive unlock gizmo no credible foreshadow technology established in Breaking Bad validated.
Andy Dufresne punctuates inspiring escape from injustice in The Shawshank Redemption via flashy banker’s check reveal and collect phone call again belying the gritty confined local realities meticulously constructed before such mythic stage left reveals should warrant.
Ways to fix – Recognize audiences invest imaginative capital in daring to believe justice gets served, so don’t rob satiation due to cheating gritty buildup late staged threads demand.
Lean on parsimony by foregoing flights toward fantastical when grounded paths payoff. Set reasonable rules then let characters plausibly earn resolutions.
Those schemas edge delight over eyes rolling when heroes manifest sudden skills, resources, or unbelievable luck precisely when cornered needs scream loudest.
Neglecting Proper Screenplay Format Fundamentals
Beyond effectively structuring layered characters navigating suitably paced conflicts set amid establishing world-building details, even stellar cinematic ideas devolve fast if improperly translated across the scripted blueprint guidance Hollywood assistants and studio higher-ups largely navigate to evaluate investment viability.
Botching expected page formats, overlooking standardized font choices down to specifics like scene intros written properly in Capitals or character names consistently capitalizing every appearance made…such tiny technical trappings become evident for experienced script readers and throw doubt on your professional polish pedigree every mistake exposes.
Specific examples – Fading IN/OUT transitional cues replaced instead with less formal sounding appends like CUT TO or DISSOLVE making the script read like an amateur stage play and undermining immersive flow showcasing how sequences could translate cinematically.
Character dialogue lines stacked atop direction paragraphs or scene descriptions instead of proper script format standards that dictate key storytelling elements remain distinctly separated for visual clarity needed in the fast-paced review and revision cycles expected.
Ways to fix – Reference screenwriting technical manuals like Syd Field’s seminal book “Screenplay” alongside modern software tools sporting properly formatted templates and handy tools aiding World Building detail organization.
Invest time digesting script examples spanning genres that orient your creative directions. Download professional screenwriting software demo versions offering not just correct script templates but built-in proofing and handy formatting assistance. Master key lingo so stage direction paragraphs and sequence/scene descriptions sound polished.
Forgetting the Crucial Three-Act Structure
Even if the prose flows poetically with sharp, snappy dialog and scenic descriptions spiced with dazzling camera directions, the most fundamental scaffolding supporting engaging storytelling remains the time-tested three-act structure.
This proven narrative formula providing satisfying closure arises from archetypal roots in mythology. When forced into rigid formulas without purpose, conventions become cliche. Yet deftly executed, the major story beats enlighten viewer journeys.
The first act must set stakes, reveal the protagonist’s drives, and escalate an inciting incident. Next, the second act piles obstacles, let characters struggle with choices, and sends established plans into disarray.
Finally, the third act gathers threads with urgency, sets final confrontations in motion, and resolves the questions compellingly. Forgetting act basics risks unsatisfying audiences.
Ways to fix – Study structure exemplars like Christopher Vogler’s “Writer’s Journey” and Blake Snyder’s “Save the Cat” schemes. Embrace flexibility within frameworks at early drafts.
Remember conventions guide, not limit possibilities. Outline major movements and pivot points before drafting scenes to visualize the sequencing needed to showcase evolution.
Conclusion:
Avoiding these seven pitfalls early in your screenwriting process gives your creative vision the best chance to shine through and resonate with audiences.
Mastering proper format, characters, narrative, and structure separates amateur ideas from professional execution. Spend more time brainstorming innovative concepts, vivid worlds, and dimensional characters than trying to patch preventable mistakes after the fact.
Soon you’ll be on your way to bringing your cinematic dreams to life on the big screen while building a sustainable career telling meaningful stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you know if your screenplay is bad?
Some signs your screenplay may be weak include – flat stereotypical characters, disjointed plotting full of holes/dead-end subplots, dialogue that feels stiff or on-the-nose, scenes that drag without purpose, improper script formatting, spelling/grammar issues, unclear stakes for the protagonist, and rejection feedback from trusted readers.
What is bad screenwriting?
Bad screenwriting manifests in things like – lazy cliches instead of fresh ideas, thin superficial characters, wandering plot without meaningful character arcs, unrealistic dialogue, stunting lead roles to push agendas, on-the-nose themes without nuance, and technical errors like improper script format.
What is a poor script?
A poor quality script often has these weaknesses – lacks engaging conflict/obstacles for protagonists, nothing unique in the central concept/execution, dialogue is unnatural or boring, scenes fail to advance the core narrative, thinly sketched worlds and characters, invalid character motivations, illogical plots full of holes.
What a screenwriter should avoid?
Screenwriters should avoid – plot holes that damage believability, spelling errors that undermine professionalism, on-the-nose dialogue lacking subtext, scenes without consequences/that stall the narrative, agenda-driven preaching instead of entertainment, overly complex timelines, unfilmable directions bogging down the visual flow.
How can I tell if my script is good?
Analyze if your script has – believable three-dimensional characters, fresh engaging dialogue that reveals personality, emotionally impactful scene work, immersive settings, entertaining visual sequences, meaningful character arcs, logical cause/effect plots with setups/payoffs, and formatting accuracy for easy reading.
What should you not do in a script?
Avoid – excessive technical jargon that confuses, large dense blocks of descriptive text slowing read, predictable story beats lacking surprise, convenient coincidences to force plots, characters without meaningful backstories, loose subplots adding confusion, not richness, spelling errors, and poor grammar.
What are the three C’s of screenwriting?
The three C’s are – Clarity: Your story premise, character motivations, and plotting should all be clear to the reader. Conciseness: Don’t overwrite. Be crisp and economical with descriptions and action. Compelling: Engage the reader with vivid worlds, authentic dialogue, and dimensional characters.
What is lazy screenwriting?
Lazy screenwriting manifests when writers rely on worn-out cliches and stereotypes rather than crafting fresh, innovative stories and characters. It also includes things like logical plot holes, convenient coincidences to move stories along, on-the-nose dialogue, and other shortcuts that reflect little effort or imagination.
Do screenwriters get rich?
While a very small minority of successful screenwriters reach fame and fortune equivalent to the actors that portray their written characters, most working writers earn solid middle-class living writing projects that never get produced or make any bestseller lists. Advancing in competitive Hollywood still demands years of effort and multiple projects to gain traction before significant wealth accumulation.
