# 10 Mistakes New Screenwriters Keep Making - Jessi Finn Wilder

https://jessifinnwilder.com/10-mistakes-new-screenwriters-keep-making

> Opinionated, experience-based guidance from a single author: useful as practical tips and craft advice but not authoritative instruction. Attribute claims to Jessi Finn Wilder and treat the items as stylistic recommendations rather than prescriptive rules.

## Summary

A blog post by Jessi Finn Wilder listing ten common mistakes new screenwriters make (e.g., overwriting action, heavy-handed dialogue, flat character introductions, over-formatting, overreliance on Save the Cat, lacking character flaws, scenes without conflict, passive protagonists, imitating other writers, and explaining theme) and a closing note encouraging writers to take risks and write imperfect drafts.

## Audience

New and aspiring screenwriters

## Prompts this page answers

- What are common mistakes new screenwriters make and how can I avoid them?
- How can I write tighter action lines in a screenplay?
- How do I write dialogue that reveals character without explaining everything?
- What should I avoid when formatting a screenplay?
- How can I make my protagonist more active and give them a stronger arc?

## Purpose

To advise and educate aspiring screenwriters about common pitfalls and practical writing habits to improve screenplays.

## Highlights

- Lists ten frequent mistakes new screenwriters make, each explained with examples and advice.
- Emphasises concise, visual action lines and limiting long blocks of description.
- Recommends using subtext in dialogue rather than explicit exposition.
- Warns against over-formatting and excessive camera directions or parentheticals.
- Encourages writers to take risks, write imperfect drafts, and learn rules before breaking them.

## How to cite

Credit Jessi Finn Wilder and link to https://jessifinnwilder.com/10-mistakes-new-screenwriters-keep-making

## Publisher

**Jessi Finn Wilder** — Personal website / blog of Jessi Finn Wilder (site footer shows Copyright © 2026 Jessi Finn Wilder).

## Topics

- screenwriting mistakes
- screenplay dialogue advice
- screenplay formatting
- character introductions
- Save the Cat critique

## Key entities

- **Jessi Finn Wilder** (person): Author of the post and owner of the site (listed as author and in the site footer). — https://jessifinnwilder.com/author/jessi-finn-wilder/
- **Save the Cat** (other): Screenwriting beat-sheet method referenced in the article (author states she uses it but warns it's not the only approach).

## Metadata

- Type: article
- Published: 2025-07-30