Tips for Overcoming the Top 5 Challenges in Screenplay Writing

Are you struggling to finish your film script? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Starting a screenplay is easy, but finishing it is a whole different ball game. The real challenge isn’t coming up with a great idea, it’s seeing it through to the end. Millions of unfinished scripts are out there, but only the ones that are revised, edited, and finished make it to the big screen.

To finish your script, you’ll have to overcome many obstacles along the way. While each obstacle will be unique to you and your story, there are some general ones you might experience. Here are five of the biggest obstacles screenwriters face when working on their brilliant ideas — and how you can overcome them.

1. Finding the RIGHT Opening Scene
The opening scene is crucial, but don’t get too caught up in your original idea. Your opening scene should be your most nitpicked and reworked scene of them all. So, start how you’d like, but finish by finding the right opening scene.

2. Defining Your Characters
Creating believable, compelling characters is essential. In the beginning, your characters may be simple, but as you nail down your story, you’ll need each character to be a living, breathing person with clearly defined goals, fears, and motivations.

3. Nailing Your Climax Early
Start with your climax and work backward from there. The climax is the crux of your story, and every other scene should build toward it. Until you have your climax knocked out, you can’t say for certain how all your other scenes will go.

4. Getting Caught up in the Small Details
Don’t get too lost in the dreaming. Build out a plot summary early on so that you can keep a 10,000-foot perspective on your project. Don’t lose track of the details, but also don’t get caught up in them such that you can’t make major outline changes when they’re necessary.

5. Every Film Doesn’t Have to Be Groundbreaking
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to write a groundbreaking film. In the beginning, it can be helpful to take that pressure off yourself and just try to write scripts that would be fun to shoot with friends.

Remember, finishing your script is the ultimate goal. Keep pushing through those obstacles, and you’ll get there.