Screenwriting : Rookie mistakes as a screenwriter? by Charisse D. Hobson

Avoid direction in your action. Stuff like WE SEE, ANGLE ON, WE HEAR. DOLLY CAM etc. Spells rookie. I recommend the following books (and a lot of writing): Save the Cat - Blake Snyder Crafty Screenwriting - Alex Epstein Inside Story - Dara Marks Your screenplay sucks - William Akers

@marvin thank you for your response! I certainly will check those books out! To you what makes a great read when seeing someone's script?

I wrote an entire screenplay (worked really hard on plot points, pacing, etc.) and couldn't figure out why it just wasn't working. Then I realized my main character had no goal. He was responding to things happening to him, but was never proactive toward any kind of goal. And yeah, (like Marvin's comment) early books I read went all into using camera shots and I got way overwhelmed before I finally learned that in a spec script, none of that is involved. I also like Save the Cat series.

@Charisse. many factors go into a script. Your first ten pages are very important. I like tight, well paced writing and that is achieved with brevity. It also has to be a "page turner" meaning the reader has to want to know what happens next. Throw in, compelling characters, strong plot and good dialogue.

Don't pay anybody for anything, no matter how much somebody says they love your work and think it has potential. Legitimate agents and managers never charge anything up front. If you want to pay for a second set of eyes to do a script analysis or enter a contest, make sure they are recommended by somebody you know and has used their services before or check to see what they're saying about them over on Donedealpro.com

its vs it's your vs you're -- spell check, grammar check, rewrite... rewrite... rewrite... rewrite... rewrite...

Not knowing the correct format!!! Spells ROOKIE immediately!

Trying to introduce all of your characters in the first five pages is extremely common!

Wow! You should name and shame the book.

Thanks everyone for the feedback! So what are some of you guys favorite genres to write about? Places you go to write? Inspiration behind your writing?

I've been writing for half a century and I still make mistakes. Biggest mistakes for me: Not re-writing, Paying too much attention to trends and forgetting my voice and that have something to say. Write from the heart. Your unique voice is what is going to separate you from the crowd. Invest in yourself because if you don't believe in yourself then who will? Learn the basics, forget about formulas and 'secrets' to great writing,write, write and keep writing and get produced. Here's something you can take to the bank: Hollywood loves new and unique voices and once they discover you then they'll hire you to write using their formula. Wishing you much success.

@Mike Chinea "Hollywood loves new and unique voices and once they discover you then they'll hire you to write using their formula." So true!!!! Producers want a writer with a unique voice and original material which gives them confidence to assign you to rewrite their familiar not so original but "safe" found footage zombie project. :-)

My first script ( it was for a 30-minute short), all my characters sounded like me. I had to get out of my head while writing dialogue and research and listen to people from different areas speak; i.e., slang, dialect, tone, etc. I've become much better at giving my "bags of bones" voices of their own. Jus' sayin'...

When I write and feel that it is good,nobody can tell me nothing again.

I write can write anywhere, but I have a few favorite spots. I could tell you where, but then I'd have to kill you.

All screenwriting elements must be understood as character driven elements. A turning point is a character choice. If you are writing and shooting yourself then include directorial notes and shot selections if not omit. Use reversals often for tension and interest. Also, do not push the pain threshold too far. One bad thing after another can turn into comedy (Unless you are writing comedy) if you do not provide some relief.

Overcomplicating things. Putting too much into a story that it is hard to follow for the reader and the potential viewers. Trying to educate too much with dialog on things that are superfluous to the story. Not knowing where to offer complexity and where to keep it simple. Forgetting to entertain people and getting too caught up in the head about it.

Thanks everyone for your comments! I certainly would like to hear from each of you on some of your upcoming projects when there ready!

Similar to what KW said, too formal. That and stuff like using people's names excessively, and gernally too much dialogue. I love dialogue, but the shorter is often the better for pace. That, of course, depends on the style of piece you're working on. But really, it's the KISS Method.

My dialogue was just awful. I am going to study up on it. Any article links are welcome.

Another common no-no, is having different characters speaking in the same style. Almost as if you can add whichever name to whichever chracter. You want them all to be different - makes it better and makes it easier for viewer (and reader) to follow/differentiate.

slapping own wrist Typos rather bad too.

I'm very visual by nature, and so my early attempts tended to go heavy on my vision of how the script would appear on screen. Now I work hard to leave that stuff for the director to do. After that, I have to work hard to be economical with my words, describing only those things that are important. I have a tendency to explain how my character fixes his drink, when all I needed to do was say that he got one.