Final Draft Blog

All the tips, tricks and information you need to inspire your writing!
Read interviews with the pros, catch up with industry news, and listen to Write On: A Screenwriting Podcast by Final Draft.

Week 6: Lee Jessup on What Writers CAN Do Now

April 23, 2020

Lee answers your questions and talks more about what writers CAN be doing during the COVID-19 crisis. This week we focus on the WGA negotiations!

Rising Through the Ranks: Saeed Crumpler

April 22, 2020

For over two decades, 40-year-old Saeed Crumpler took the Oakland, California music industry by storm. With rap hits like Swagger Jackin, and Fa Sho featuring Kendrick Lamar, Crumpler became a rising star gaining fans around the world. It was a fulfi...

The Importance of A Diversity Category

April 22, 2020

Ben Johnson had doubts anyone would ever hear his voice. As a person of color from South Africa, Hollywood and his dreams of being a screenwriter always seemed thousands of miles away in a land far, far away. But his talent and passion were reaffirme...

Fast Five: 'Kimmy Schmidt' & J.J. Abrams

April 21, 2020

Burned through your streaming watch list and DVR? Thankfully, there are plenty of new options being released, from the interactive return of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and group watch parties, to the quarantine emergence of professional wrestling and ...

Weekend Movie Takeaway: Social Media is the New Viewer Ratings

April 21, 2020

The rise of the streaming era is arguably making content more accessible, but it’s also making it more and more difficult to gauge which narratives are breaking through and connecting with audiences. This is in part due to a more nebulous aspect of s...

Write On with 'Mrs. America' Showrunner Dahvi Waller

April 21, 2020

Mrs. America showrunner Dahvi Waller discusses what makes this story relevant now, details that are important when writing a period piece, lessons she learned working on Mad Men and more.

Fellowship Season Prep Part 1: Mining Memories

April 17, 2020

Every spring, aspiring TV writers zhuzh up their spec scripts, polish their pilots and brace themselves for fellowship season.

Weekend Writing Inspiration: 5 Steps to Take When Your Plot Rocks But Your Characters Fall Flat

April 17, 2020

A few weeks ago, I wrote about what to do when your writing strengths lie with character, but your plot and structure skills aren’t as strong. Today, we’re tackling what to do when your plot and structure skills are strong, but you struggle with maki...

Write On with 'The Quarry' Co-Writer and Director Scott Teems

April 17, 2020

The Quarry co-writer and director Scott Teems discusses what draws him to morally ambiguous characters, his work on television shows like Rectified, his advice for writers just starting out and more.