Resources
Consultation
Fine-tune your craft with high quality detailed notes
Learn
Refine your screenwriting skills
Writing Software
Industry-leading screenwriting software at a great price
Events
Learn about Hollywood and stay inspired with virtual events and video recordings
Blog
News, interviews, and writing tips from screenwriting greats
Subscribe to the ScreenCraft Newsletter
Subscribe Now
Get Notes
Genre-Specific Notes
Fine-tune your craft with high quality detailed notes
Preparation Notes
Get your next script on the right track

6 Rookie Mistakes in Screenplay Writing

by ScreenCraft Staff - updated on March 1, 2015

We asked 10 of our expert script analysts at several major production companies for THE MOST COMMON ROOKIE MISTAKES they see in screenplays.  Here are their responses:

  1. The protagonist does not have a strong enough goal.
  2. The dialogue lacks subtext.
  3. The characters don't have enough arc.
  4. The characters' dialogue sounds too similar.
  5. The stakes are too low.
  6. There's no urgency to the protagonist's goal.

See: The Four Keys to a Viable Screenplay

Get Our Newsletter!

Get weekly writing inspiration delivered to your inbox - including industry news, popular articles, and more!

This field is hidden when viewing the form
Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Developing Your Own Script?

We'll send you a list of our free eCourses when you subscribe to our newsletter. No strings attached.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

You Might Also Like

© 2025 ScreenCraft | An Industry Arts Company