Applying Structure: Avoiding Forced Narratives in Screenwriting?

Hey everyone,

As a working Director/Writer, I'm always looking to refine my process and avoid those common pitfalls, especially on the writing side. I'm currently outlining a new thriller and playing with different structural approaches, specifically the 3-Act and Sequence Method.

My concern is I don't want to force a story into a box it doesn't belong in. I've seen scripts where it feels like the writer crammed their narrative into a structure, and it just... didn't work. For this thriller, I'm finding certain plot points feel a little arbitrary if I rigidly stick to, say, a strict 25% mark for the Inciting Incident, and that makes me nervous.

From your experiences, what are some of the most common mistakes new screenwriters make when trying to apply a specific structure, like the 3-Act or Sequence Method, to their story? What signs should we look for that we might be forcing a structure that doesn't fit the natural flow or emotional arc of our narrative?