Revamp Your Narrative: Eliminate Writing Aptitude Pitfalls
In the world of screenwriting, standing out from the crowd can be a daunting task. However, by addressing common red flags and elevating the quality of their work, writers can significantly improve their chances of success.
Hal Croasmun, a renowned figure in the screenwriting community, has identified several key aspects that writers should focus on to create engaging and industry-ready scripts.
Character Depth and Complexity
Flat, one-dimensional characters are a major red flag for executives and script readers. To create memorable, relatable personalities, ensure your characters have clear motivations, emotional complexity, and distinct arcs that evolve throughout the story. Tools like script breakdowns and peer or sensitivity reads can help uncover underdeveloped or similar characters.
Strong Opening and Clear Storytelling
A compelling opening is crucial to hook the reader from the very first page. Avoid starting with mere stage directions or exposition. Clarity in storytelling with strong emotional connections between plot points is vital to keep the pacing tight and ensure every scene serves the story’s overall goal.
Script Length and Pacing
Industry standard suggests a screenplay around 90-120 pages; exceeding this length often signals pacing or structural issues that cause reader fatigue and disinterest. Tighten scenes and remove anything redundant or off-theme to maintain momentum throughout the script.
Conflict and Stakes
Clearly define what stands in your protagonist’s way and what they stand to lose. High stakes and palpable obstacles enrich tension and compel audience investment. Make the conflict personal or universally relatable to deepen emotional weight.
Feedback and Iteration
Utilize peer reviews, professional script notes, and audience testing where possible. Feedback loops help expose blind spots like clichés, plot holes, or tone inconsistencies and lead to incremental improvements that elevate the script’s quality before industry submission.
Clichés in a script can be seen as placeholders that can be improved upon, rather than ignored or hoped to be overlooked. To raise the bar on their work, writers can harness their innate ability to improve the quality of their work by answering their own objections and brainstorming new ideas that would work in the context of their script.
Croasmun suggests having three different stages of completeness for a script - a satisfying draft, a contest draft, and a producer's draft. Steven Pressfield, the seminal author on the concept of resistance, states that professionals know when they have fallen short of their own standards and are willing to "murder their darlings" without hesitation to stay true to their work’s excellence.
The approach to a script is not just about getting it done, but getting it done well. The screenplay industry is competitive, and elevating every aspect of the work is what will make the script truly shine. When giving feedback to other writers, speaking up about things that feel off is important. If a writer notices something uncomfortable in their script, they should flag it, take note, and fix it.
When receiving notes, listening with one’s inner writer’s wisdom is important, even if the note is not liked. Paying attention to the parts of a script that nag at the writer, the things that are just a bit outside or way past where they want them to be, is important. The writer in the session found a new way to address her concerns about her story by treating them as useful information and brainstorming new ideas that would work in the context of her script.
In a short tenure, the writer was able to complete her pilot after months of being blocked. She learned to pay close attention to the parts of her script that felt off, which she referred to as "red flags." Croasmun finds that about 5% of screenplays are written at a professional level. By incorporating these steps, writers can address common red flags, enhancing both narrative strength and professional appeal. Systematic use of breakdowns, sensitivity reads, and peer feedback cycles ensures their script resonates and stands out in competitive industry environments.
- In the world of screenwriting, many writers strive to stand out from the crowd, but it can be a challenging task.
- Hal Croasmun, a notable figure in the screenwriting community, offers insights into the key aspects that writers should focus on to create industry-ready scripts.
- To create relatable and memorable characters, ensure they have clear motivations, emotional depth, and evolving arcs, using tools like script breakdowns and peer or sensitivity reads.
- A compelling opening is vital to hook the reader from the first page, with clarity in storytelling and strong emotional connections between plot points that keep the pacing tight.
- Industry standard suggests a screenplay around 90-120 pages, with excessive length often signaling structural issues that cause reader fatigue.
- To deepen tension and audience investment, clearly define the protagonist's obstacles and what they stand to lose, making the conflict personal or universally relatable.
- Seek feedback from peers, professionals, and audience testing to identify blind spots like clichés, plot holes, or tone inconsistencies, leading to improvements that elevate the script's quality.
- Utilize the feedback loop to raise the bar on one's work, addressing red flags, and systematically incorporating breakdowns, sensitivity reads, and peer feedback cycles to create a professional-level script that stands out in competitive industry environments.
