Maybe you have a cursory knowledge of Final Draft’s Beat Board or even used it a few times, but you are aware of its various applications. Or maybe you’re not even aware of this outlining tool that’s available to writers.

Your environment when screenwriting isn’t often talked about, but it plays an important role in the creative process. From the lighting to the music you are playing, the ambiance of your workspace can foster your imagination and productivity. Below I...

Hollywood has been producing biographical films or biopics since the earliest days of the movie business. Due to changing times and tastes, some film genres come and go with varying popularity in the screenwriting marketplace. With more and more focu...

When you’re trying to finish writing a screenplay, two of the biggest obstacles is staying productive and motivated. There will be days where you stare at the empty page and wonder if you can really take this thing all the way to the end.

There are several benefits of creating a system of organization when outlining and writing a screenplay or pilot: it helps you keep track of all of your scenes, plot points, character arcs, and the overriding themes of your script. Having a system of...

In my article “You’ve Finished Your Screenplay. Now What?”, I discussed the various steps a screenwriter should take when they’re ready to present their screenplay to the industry: researching the business, entering screenwriting contests, submitting...

For decades, the typewriter was the tool most screenwriters would use to write their scripts.

Outlining your story before writing a screenplay is a vital tool that will save you time and energy. Not only will it help you in terms of structuring your narrative, you’re less likely to have a “second act slump” if you plotted all of the major sto...

You need to have a multi-dimensional view of your script when screenwriting. You should know how everything is connected: scenes, characters, locations, etc. I refer to this as “seeing the big picture in screenwriting.”