Writing a script is no easy task, and even after all the hard work, it’s still possible for a great story to fall flat. Many scripts fail, not because of a lack of talent or creativity, but because of common pitfalls that can derail even the most promising ideas. If you want your script to get noticed and ultimately sold, you need to avoid these key story mistakes.
In this article, we’ll dive into the common reasons great scripts fail and how you can avoid them. Whether you’re writing your first screenplay or refining a draft, understanding these pitfalls will help you create a more compelling and successful script.
1. Lack of Strong Character Motivation
Why It’s Important:
A protagonist without clear motivation feels aimless, and a script without a compelling lead will leave the audience disengaged. If your characters don’t have strong desires or internal conflicts, there’s no emotional hook for the audience to latch onto. Without motivation, your plot loses its power and urgency.
What to Do:
- Clarify the Protagonist’s Goal: From the very first scene, establish what your protagonist wants, why they want it, and what they’re willing to do to get it. This goal should be personal, high-stakes, and integral to the narrative.
- Make Their Motivation Evolve: Throughout the script, allow your protagonist’s goals to evolve based on the challenges they face. A character who doesn’t change or grow throughout the story can feel static, which can make the narrative feel flat.
Example: In The Pursuit of Happyness, Chris Gardner’s motivation to land a job and provide for his son is clear from the start. The film keeps the stakes high as he faces obstacle after obstacle, and his motivation evolves as he faces personal and professional growth.
Pro Tip: Ensure your antagonist also has strong motivations. A clear, complex antagonist adds layers of conflict that can challenge the protagonist and deepen the story.
2. Weak Conflict or Lack of Tension
Why It’s Important:
Conflict is the engine of a screenplay. Without conflict, there’s no drama, no tension, and no reason for the audience to stay invested. Weak conflict or a lack of meaningful tension can make your script feel like it’s going nowhere. Without challenges, your protagonist’s journey will seem pointless, and the stakes won’t feel high enough.
What to Do:
- Raise the Stakes: The conflict should escalate throughout the script. If the protagonist faces the same level of challenge from start to finish, the story will feel monotonous and lack momentum. Introduce obstacles that become progressively more difficult, and make sure the consequences of failure are dire.
- Create Personal Stakes: Make the conflict personal. When the protagonist’s goals are tied to their internal struggle or emotional arc, the stakes feel more immediate and impactful.
Example: In The Dark Knight, Joker escalates the stakes throughout the film by challenging Batman’s moral code, forcing him to make impossible decisions. The tension builds to a point where Batman must make a choice that affects not only his life but the lives of Gotham’s citizens.
Pro Tip: If the conflict feels predictable or stale, add new twists to keep the tension high. Introduce new antagonists, unexpected complications, or moral dilemmas to force your protagonist into difficult decisions.
3. Overly Complex Plot or Too Many Subplots
Why It’s Important:
While subplots can add depth to your story, too many subplots or an overly complex plot can confuse the audience and detract from the main narrative. A convoluted storyline can make the script feel disjointed and distract from the emotional core of the story. Hollywood tends to favor scripts that are clear, focused, and easy to follow.
What to Do:
- Stay Focused on the Main Plot: Make sure the primary plot remains at the center of the story, and every subplot should tie into that core narrative. Each subplot should support the protagonist’s arc or reveal something essential about the world or other characters.
- Simplify: If your plot starts feeling like a maze, simplify it. Strip away unnecessary characters or events that don’t drive the story forward. The best scripts often have a streamlined plot that delivers everything the audience needs without overloading them.
Example: In Jaws, the central plot—dealing with a killer shark terrorizing a small town—is clear and simple. The film’s success comes from focusing on that central narrative, while secondary themes (like Chief Brody’s fear of the ocean) enhance rather than complicate the story.
Pro Tip: If you have multiple subplots, make sure each one serves a clear purpose. If a subplot doesn’t enhance character development, escalate the tension, or enrich the main plot, consider cutting it.
4. Predictability and Lack of Surprises
Why It’s Important:
One of the quickest ways to lose an audience’s interest is to make your script predictable. If the plot follows a formulaic or clichéd path, the audience will stop caring because they can guess what will happen next. Hollywood loves fresh ideas, and even if you’re working in a genre with well-established tropes, your script should still offer something unexpected.
What to Do:
- Subvert Expectations: Take a well-worn trope or genre and find a way to turn it on its head. Give the audience something they haven’t seen before, even if it’s in a genre they’re familiar with.
- Use Twists Wisely: Plot twists can keep your audience on their toes, but they should be earned. Don’t use twists for the sake of shocking the audience; make sure they’re grounded in the character’s journey and the story’s emotional arc.
Example: In The Sixth Sense, the twist ending completely changes the audience’s perception of the entire film. The reveal is surprising, but it’s not just a gimmick—it’s a payoff to the themes of the movie and the character’s internal struggle.
Pro Tip: If you’re writing a genre film, think about how you can subvert genre conventions. What’s the one thing the audience expects to happen, and how can you surprise them?
5. Lack of a Strong Theme or Message
Why It’s Important:
A script without a clear theme can feel hollow or directionless. A strong theme gives the story emotional weight and makes it resonate on a deeper level. Themes can be subtle or overt, but they should be present throughout the script, guiding the protagonist’s journey and reinforcing the emotional stakes.
What to Do:
- Identify Your Theme: Think about what your story is really about. Is it about love, redemption, justice, or sacrifice? Identify the underlying message of your script, and make sure it’s woven into the character arcs, the conflict, and the resolution.
- Show, Don’t Tell: A theme should emerge organically through the story and the characters’ actions, not through exposition or forced dialogue. Let your theme be reflected in the protagonist’s journey and the choices they make.
Example: In The Shawshank Redemption, the theme of hope is central to the story. Even though Andy Dufresne is wrongly imprisoned, his ability to maintain hope through his darkest moments resonates deeply with the audience.
Pro Tip: Avoid making your theme too on-the-nose. Instead of having characters directly say what the story is about, show the theme through actions, conflicts, and decisions.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Let These Pitfalls Derail Your Script
Screenwriting is an art form, and even the best writers can fall victim to common pitfalls. But understanding these mistakes and how to avoid them will give you a strong foundation for writing compelling, engaging scripts. By focusing on strong character motivation, keeping the conflict tense, simplifying the plot, avoiding predictability, and reinforcing a meaningful theme, you can elevate your story and increase your chances of success in the industry.
Further Resources:
- ScreenCraft: Resources and tips for screenwriters, with a focus on script structure and avoiding common pitfalls.
- Go Into The Story: A fantastic blog that dives deep into screenwriting techniques and common mistakes.
- Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder for an in-depth guide on writing compelling screenplays.
- 6 Signs of Weak Writing
