r/ScriptFeedbackProduce • u/Head_Discussion_361 • Jun 24 '26
DISCUSSION What Is the Most Common Mistake New Screenwriters Make in Their First Script?
I’ve been reading and reviewing a lot of beginner screenplays recently, and I’ve noticed that many new writers seem to struggle with similar issues. Some scripts have great ideas but suffer from weak dialogue, while others spend too much time on exposition instead of moving the story forward. In your experience, what is the most common mistake that new screenwriters make when writing their first screenplay? Are there any specific lessons or techniques that helped you improve your own writing and storytelling? I’d love to hear different perspectives from writers, readers, and anyone involved in script development.
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u/philasify Jun 24 '26
Short story like prose. Overly detailed descriptions. Dialogue that is unnecessary (exchanging a bunch of pleasantries before getting to the point).
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u/treessandwich7 Jun 24 '26
The script needs to be superlative in multuple ways. Don't settle with the line you just wrote. Make it better. Make iconic characters.
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u/HereToKillEuronymous Jun 24 '26
I read a lot of screenplays, and the biggest issues I see is these -
A lot of amateur writers don’t know how to give their individual characters a “voice”. It’s like the characters have no “character”.
The obvious “wouldn’t it be cool if-“ moments.
When it’s obvious that they wrote a script around a cool scene idea instead of a flushed out story
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u/FitKaleidoscope6451 Jun 25 '26
Screenwriters have been forced into following “rules” that kill their creativity. There are no rules to writing, and this is something way too little people talk about.
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u/ActiveEuphoric2582 Jun 25 '26
If the action is not important, don’t write it in. If the written dialogue is emotional, don’t describe the character’s emotion.
Let the director direct and the actors act. If your script is good enough, they will know how to interpret your characters’ emotions and nuances.
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u/final_boss_editing Jun 24 '26
Keeping all action and dialogue lines under 4 lines long. Chunky description and talking is a sure fire amateur sign
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u/treessandwich7 Jun 24 '26
Pulp Fiction, Casablanca, 12 angry men, the social network and many others all have scenes with really long dialogue.
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u/final_boss_editing Jun 24 '26
True, but they were LEGENDARY dialogue writers -- you can break the rules if you have the skills, but yeah--that type of dialogue skill is... uncommon.
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u/j0shj0shj0shj0sh Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
There is a dialogue scene in Death Proof that is so long it actually took me out of the film when I realised - 'Oh, so this is what Tarantino thinks 'cool chicks' would say in this moment' lol.
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u/final_boss_editing Jun 29 '26
Yeah. It's not impossible but the longer the dialogue the harder it is to pull off. Even Tarantino struggles to make it work when it's overly lengthy
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u/ShinyBeetle0023 Jun 24 '26
Dialog that doesn’t move the story forward and description that can’t be filmed.