A few signs the screenplay is amateurish from the title page alone: copyrighted, dated (especially if dated from a previous year), watermarked as if it's from a studio, extra credits such as "story by," and a personal address (no one is sending you a letter). #scriptsky

It might be time to retire openings that turn out to be a movie or TV shoot. It's not the exciting reveal writers think it is, as it's done to death. #scriptsky

There are countless horror screenplays. I probably read eight a week, which is a high percentage of my reading. It must push the limits to garner attention. Like, it has to be extremely funny or disturbingly fucked up to turn heads. Or preferably both. #scriptsky

Just because it's a historical drama doesn't mean it needs to have a mammoth page count. #scriptsky

EXT. LOCATION - MAGIC HOUR Now we're dealing with a real filmmaker. #scriptsky

Your characters don't need to order food unless it's significant for them or the story. They can just talk at the diner/restaurant/bar/whatever. #scriptsky

I give most monologues a cursory scan at best. #scriptsky

Features don't necessarily need multiple storylines, but a pilot should have at least an A and a B storyline. There are always exceptions, but if your pilot only has a single storyline, it can cause it to read more like an opening act to a feature, or worse, get boring. #scriptsky

You probably have too much dialogue. #scriptsky

I've been encountering a lot of "It's not x, it's y" and similar negations. A quick Google search and I found it's because negation is used a lot in AI. Don't use AI to write. Here's a link that better explains the issue than I can: #scriptsky www.blakestockton.com/dont-write-l...

Character descriptions focused on what they're wearing, hair and eye color, attractiveness, etc., are usually unnecessary unless integral to the character and story. #scriptsky

I skip montages. #scriptsky

It may seem silly, but avoid characters with similar names. Having characters named Mike and Miles can get confusing.

Countless AI projects are coming through. It feels like a third of the screenplays I come across have an AI element. So, if you're going to incorporate AI in your story, it must be an original and creative idea that no one has come up with.

Many industry readers skim descriptions (at best) and focus on dialogue.

Aside from the basics, formatting does not matter much as long as it's consistent.

Not every pregnant character needs to be very pregnant.

Get into the premise within the first fifteen pages.

Anything important can be in CAPS in descriptions. It makes the read quicker.

I skip prayers, sermons, and bible quotes.