Writing a comedy? In the first draft, concentrate on making the characters feel real. Jokes are for the second draft.

Every once in a while, step back from film theory and plot structure to think about your story’s place in the overall culture. What do you want your story to say, and why do we need that message right now?

Avoid opening scenes that exist just to demonstrate to the reader how clever/daring/evocative you are. If the scene has no bearing on the protagonist, it shouldn’t be there.

What you write belongs to you. Every word is a decision, and every decision is a reflection of yourself. Never forget that.