While grammar and sentence structure are not the essence of the screenplay you are writing, they do dictate the flow and proficiency of the storytelling. Improving your sentence structure will improve the readability of the script, preventing the dialogue from sounding stilted or disjointed. Going through your script to correct all grammatical errors will make a difference when you give the script to a producer or director to read, as grammatical errors are the first indicator that you are not a professional.
Character development is an essential part of any script. While characters may perform a variety of actions throughout your script, it is important that they change and grow over the course of the story. Whether the script is true to personal life or purely fictional in nature, characters must be relatable so the audience can feel compassion for them and get immersed in their story. It is particularly important to give your main character a unique voice through dialogue. During revision, a specific tone and rhythm for each character can be established.
A narrative arc in the context of a script can pertain to the entire story or focus on a specific character. For the script as a whole, the narrative arc is the beginning, middle and end of the story; in a play, it may be referred to as Acts I, II and III. The arc for an individual character may move them from one emotional state or pattern of behavior to another. Both can be shown through symbolic actions, tests, trials and tribulations. Establishing a firm ending to your narrative arc can make the difference between satisfying or alienating an audience. Spending a week or two away from a script can help bring clarity to the revision process.
Novelist and playwright William Goldman described the read-through as the most important part of a production. Before a script is finalized, it is important to hear how the dialogue, stage direction and overall pacing works in real life. While a portion of a script may make perfect sense in writing, it may not successfully translate to a live performance. Individuals who are not intimately linked to the writing process can bring a more objective viewpoint to the work in a reading and observers to watch and critique the script being read can offer perspective on possible edits and ways to take the plot.