Final Draft Blog

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Writing Crime: It's all In The Details

March 3, 2017

The crime genre unites the tragic and the absurd like little else. Before focusing on fictional mayhem, I was a crime journalist for 10 years. I covered a rail-riding serial killer who clubbed people to death in three states, a bank robber unfortunat...

How to Write Realistic Character Flaws

February 6, 2017

"Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future." -Oscar Wilde Let’s just say it: Redemption stories are awesome! They’re relatable, they can be set anywhere and filmed on a variety of budgets, and they can provide audiences with a satisfying ...

Putting Relationships First: Mike Mills on “20th Century Women”

January 31, 2017

Writer-director Mike Mills’ autobiographical film 20th Century Women is all about relationships. When speaking with Mills, he mentioned, “The only way to learn about a character is to put him in various relationship situations.”

Reader Profile: Get Your Scripts Ready for Big Break Screenwriting Contest

January 19, 2017

The Big Break Screenwriting Contest opening date is right around the corner! To help you get your scripts ready to submit we've asked our readers to go through their reading careers and give us their best advice on preparing for Big Break.

Writing For Ensemble Casts

January 18, 2017

Writing a story with an ensemble cast is like serving a pie with equal slices. You might start with an idea delicious enough for five or more characters, but if you don’t balance them just right during the writing process, one or two of the character...

Writing Three-Dimensional Villains

January 11, 2017

Actor Ben Mendelsohn has been getting his share of acclaim for his portrayal of Rogue One’s main villain: Imperial Officer Orson Krennic. No doubt, it’s a wonderful performance, but credit should also be given to the writers for creating a three-dime...

Five Overused Comedy Bits to Avoid

December 22, 2016

Naturally when writing a comedy, the writer will want to lampoon certain trends in our culture. The best satire is always a commentary of the times. That being said, the shelf life of a fresh joke isn’t particularly long. What might seem funny to you...

How To Get Out Of Your Own Way

December 21, 2016

I’ve never met a writer at any stage of their career who hasn’t struggled mightily with fear, self-loathing, and writer’s block. Writers may be capable of writing bestselling novels and blockbuster motion pictures and really, really great car owner m...

"Westworld" and the Power of Repetition

December 2, 2016

A serene blonde woman walks in a cornflower blue dress that sweeps along the dusty streets of a Western town. As she reaches her horse, she drops a can of milk from her bag. A gallant cowboy, her sweetheart who’s been away, picks it up for her. Or do...