Avoiding Structural Pitfalls: When does a method become a straightjacket?

Hey everyone,

I'm always looking to avoid those common rookie errors that can derail a script. I'm currently wrestling with a new dramedy and trying to consciously apply the Sequence Method, having typically leaned more on instincts in the past (which often resulted in a rough 3-act draft anyway).

My question is this: based on 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? I'm finding myself almost reverse-engineering plot points to fit the sequence beats, and it's starting to feel... forced. What are the red flags we should look for that indicate we might be imposing a structure that just doesn't fit our story, rather than letting it organically emerge?