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 Not to Network as a Screenwriter

November 20, 2020

Writers, so begins my tale of woe:

Final Draft® Honors Aaron Sorkin, Steve McQueen, Sofia Coppola, Ramy Youseff & Radha Blank

November 18, 2020

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18 – Final Draft, a Cast & Crew Company, now in its 30th year as the industry standard for screenwriting software, today announced the honorees for the 16th Annual Final Draft Awards. The awards, which recognize outstanding and ...

Embracing Entrepreneurship As a Screenwriter Part I: Taking Initiative

October 28, 2020

I believe that being an effective entrepreneur is hugely beneficial when it comes to being a successful screenwriter. First and foremost, it improves your overall chances and opportunities. Secondly, it reduces the number of people you need to rely o...

Weekend Writing Inspiration: 6 Steps to Tackling a Major Script Revision

October 9, 2020

If you’re staring down a major script rewrite it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, particularly when dealing with large-scale structural or character changes—or both!. Even though we know “writing is rewriting,” it can be daunting to face a big overhaul, e...

6 Tips To Keep Writing When It Feels Like the World Is Falling Apart

September 25, 2020

Right now it feels like, one way or another, the world is falling apart. As a result, writers are more vulnerable to distraction, stress and anxiety than usual. I’m seeing threads, articles and discussions running the emotional gamut; from despair an...

Unscripted: This Week in Screenwriting News (September 18, 2020)

September 21, 2020

Screenwriting career consultant Lee Jessup discusses this week's success stories, industry news, online events, and more.

Weekend Writing Inspiration: Is It Time For a Writing Coach?

September 11, 2020

Sometimes you need help to make writing happen, solve a story problem, or sort out the next steps in your screenwriting career. One of the most powerful reasons to work with a writing coach is to have someone on your team — someone to turn to when th...

6 Things To Do Once You Get A Script Request

September 10, 2020

Congratulations! Despite all of the odds and self doubt, you queried managers and got a script request! It's okay to celebrate. In fact, you should celebrate. You’ve just joined one of the few writers who's had success querying, so it’s okay if you w...

Developing Your Brand, Part II: Combining the Technical and Emotional Aspects of Your Writing

August 28, 2020

Welcome back to our two-part series on developing your brand! Back in part one, we talked about what a brand is, why you need it, and how to develop the “technical” part of your branding statement. From here, we’ll finish up developing your brand and...