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.

How to Work Your Win: Catching Up with 2020 Big Break Winner Ben Johnson Jr.

May 8, 2023

Writer Ben Johnson Jr. had a very specific goal when entering Final Draft’s Big Break – to get repped. “Because I live in South Africa, I knew I needed a manager or agent to champion me and my work in the American market,” he shares. “So I researched...

Write On: Daisy Jones & the Six's co-showrunner Scott Neustadter

May 4, 2023

The story of how Daisy Jones & the Six went from book to TV show is a fascinating one. Scott Neustadter, best known for comedies like 500 Days of Summer and The Disaster Artist, was sent the unpublished manuscript about the rise of a rock band in...

Staying Motivated as a Screenwriter

May 2, 2023

The life of the screenwriter isn’t always an easy one.

What is Screenplay Coverage?

May 1, 2023

You’ve likely heard the term “coverage” used in reference to screenplays, but what is it and how do you get it? To put it in simple terms, coverage is feedback on your script from an industry professional.

Write On: Blindspotting's Rafael Casal on Hiring Writers for his Room

April 25, 2023

Final Draft's Write On podcast series sits down with co-creator Rafael Casal on the second season of his half-hour comedy series Blindspotting. The show centers on Ashley, who lives in Oakland, Calif. When her partner (who is also the father of her s...

Screenwriting Homage Vs. Screenwriting Stealing

April 25, 2023

Many screenwriters like to insert homages to past films into their screenplays, but the king of the cinematic homage has to be Quentin Tarantino.

You’ve Finished Your Screenplay. Now what?

April 21, 2023

In past articles, I gave advice on how to effectively start and finish a screenplay. Well, let’s say you followed all of my tips and you did it: your screenplay is finished!

What is Chekhov's Gun?

April 18, 2023

Chekhov's Gun was intended to be advice for playwrights and novelists, from a writer working in a time before there even were movie theaters and televisions.

Screenwriting Mentor Lee Jessup Says Entering a Competition is All About Gaining Industry Access

April 17, 2023

Lee Jessup is a career coach for screenwriters and has been mentoring winners of the Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Competition (which is now open for entries!) for over a decade. Her experience in the industry and savvy for knowing what makes a...