You’ve got a solid concept, a protagonist with depth, and a well-structured script—so why isn’t it working? Even great scripts can stumble and fail to resonate with readers, producers, or audiences. The reason often lies in subtle story pitfalls that derail the emotional core, pacing, or cohesion of the screenplay.
In this article, we’ll uncover the most common reasons why great scripts fail and, most importantly, how to fix them.
1. A Lack of Emotional Stakes
Why It’s Important:
Even the most action-packed scripts can fall flat if there’s no emotional core. Audiences don’t just want to see what happens—they want to feel why it matters. Without personal stakes, your story risks becoming a series of events that fail to connect on a deeper level.
What to Do:
- Anchor the Stakes in Relationships: Tie the protagonist’s goals to someone or something they care deeply about. This gives the audience a reason to root for their success or fear their failure.
- Raise the Emotional Costs: What happens if the protagonist fails? The consequences should be more than physical—emotional fallout makes the stakes feel more real.
Example: In Saving Private Ryan, the mission to rescue one soldier isn’t just about military duty—it’s about the moral weight of risking lives for the sake of one man. This emotional underpinning makes the stakes deeply personal.
Pro Tip: Ask yourself: Why should the audience care? If the answer isn’t clear, rework the stakes to make them more emotionally impactful.
2. Weak or Unrealistic Dialogue
Why It’s Important:
Dialogue is one of the fastest ways to lose your audience’s trust. If your characters sound unnatural or their lines don’t match their personality, it breaks the immersion. Worse, dialogue that exists solely to explain the plot (exposition dumps) can feel forced and boring.
What to Do:
- Give Each Character a Unique Voice: Characters should have distinct ways of speaking that reflect their backgrounds, personalities, and emotional states. A teenager in a dystopian world shouldn’t sound like a seasoned lawyer.
- Balance Subtext and Clarity: Great dialogue often hides more than it reveals. Instead of spelling out every thought, let the subtext show through actions, tone, and carefully chosen words.
Example: In The Big Short, the dialogue reflects each character’s intelligence and cynicism while still explaining complex financial concepts in an engaging way. It’s witty, sharp, and character-driven.
Pro Tip: Read your dialogue out loud. If it feels clunky or overly formal, rewrite it to sound more natural and conversational.
3. Pacing That Drags or Rushes
Why It’s Important:
Pacing is critical to keeping your audience engaged. Too slow, and you risk losing them; too fast, and they might miss important emotional beats. Striking the right balance between action, reflection, and tension is key.
What to Do:
- Use Scene Transitions to Control Flow: Shift between high-energy scenes and quieter moments to create a rhythm that keeps the audience engaged. Follow intense action with a reflective moment to let the audience breathe before the next big event.
- Cut the Fat: If a scene doesn’t advance the plot, reveal character, or heighten stakes, consider cutting it. Every scene should serve a purpose.
Example: Mad Max: Fury Road maintains relentless pacing, but it also knows when to pause and let characters reflect, such as Furiosa’s breakdown at the sight of her destroyed homeland. These moments add emotional weight without slowing the narrative.
Pro Tip: Test your pacing by asking a trusted reader for feedback. If they feel the story drags in certain areas, revisit those scenes and tighten them.
4. A Confusing or Weak Theme
Why It’s Important:
A screenplay without a clear theme can feel shallow or aimless. Themes are the emotional and intellectual backbone of your story—they’re what give it resonance and purpose. If your theme isn’t clear, your story might fail to leave a lasting impression.
What to Do:
- Identify Your Story’s Core Question: What is your script really about? Is it about the cost of revenge, the search for identity, or the power of forgiveness? Make sure every major plot point ties back to this question.
- Show, Don’t Tell: Themes should emerge naturally through the characters’ actions and choices, not through heavy-handed dialogue or exposition.
Example: In The Dark Knight, the theme of chaos versus order is woven throughout the story. The Joker embodies chaos, while Batman struggles to uphold order, creating a thematic conflict that drives the plot.
Pro Tip: Revisit your script and ask: Does every major scene reinforce the theme? If not, consider how you can tighten the focus.
5. A Predictable or Disconnected Ending
Why It’s Important:
Even if the rest of your script is solid, a weak or predictable ending can leave a sour taste in the audience’s mouth. The ending is your final chance to leave an impression—make it count.
What to Do:
- Subvert Expectations: A surprising but logical ending will stay with the audience. Avoid clichés and consider how you can twist the narrative in a way that feels fresh but earned.
- Tie Up Loose Ends: Make sure every major subplot or character arc is resolved. An ending that leaves too many questions unanswered can feel incomplete.
Example: Whiplash ends with a high-stakes final performance that subverts the power dynamic between Andrew and Fletcher. It’s unexpected yet perfectly aligns with the story’s themes of ambition and sacrifice.
Pro Tip: The best endings often circle back to the beginning in some way. Consider how your final scene can echo or resolve elements from the opening.
Final Thoughts: Avoiding Pitfalls Leads to Great Scripts
Even the best ideas can falter if these common pitfalls aren’t addressed. By focusing on emotional stakes, authentic dialogue, proper pacing, clear themes, and a strong ending, you can elevate your script and ensure it resonates with readers and audiences alike. Remember, no script is perfect on the first draft—great writing comes from identifying and fixing these issues.
