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.

The Bricks of Breaking In: Julie Sagalowsky Diaz On Finding Your Voice

December 9, 2022

Julie Sagalowsky Diaz (Surfside Girls, The Shannara Chronicles) always found herself interested in performing as she did a lot of choir and musical theater in her youth. She recalls, “That was kind of my avenue into television, film and the arts at l...

Rising Through the Ranks: 'Equalizer's' Vanessa Herron

November 11, 2022

“I’m excited to wake up in the morning and do what I’ve dreamed of doing for so long: Make a decent living as a writer.”

Rising Through the Ranks: Jake Lawler on falling in love with the leap

June 27, 2022

Jake Lawler brings all the focus and determination from his history as a professional athlete to his current career in the writers’ room. “I wish 10yr old me could see how good it gets, but I know I’m making him proud,” Lawler tweeted after landing i...

Rising through the Ranks: Aiko Hilkinger on diversifying the YA genre

June 13, 2022

Aiko Hilkinger is bringing her magical brand of writing diverse, LGBTQIA+ characters that inspire the next generation to the scene, starting with a show she’s currently developing with the ISA.

Rising through the Ranks: Comedy screenwriter Bri Morris

June 8, 2022

Screenwriter Bri Morris got her start in comedy doing improv in Chicago at the famous Second City and The iO Theater. Even before that, she was the kid who wanted to write jokes for her elementary school broadcast program.

Rising through the Ranks: Ariel Relaford is climbing ladders and reaching back

June 6, 2022

Photo courtesy of Ariel Relaford Producer and co-host of The SCREAMwriters Podcast, MMA practitioner, and horror-sci-fi-comedy writer Ariel Relaford discovered “screenwriter Twitter” during the pandemic—and it’s a good thing too because what started ...

Rising through the Ranks: Writer Eleni Rivera-Colon on digging deep to reach the top

June 1, 2022

Photo courtesy of Eleni Rivera-Colon Eleni Rivera-Colon’s social profile reads: “Small, nerdy, Puerto Rican sci-fi writer/director.” While that may sum her up on the page, in real life she’s got an energetic vibe that’s easy and engaging… with an edg...

Rising Through the Ranks: Sam Thompson writes horror for mental health

March 29, 2022

Sam Thompson kicked off 2022 by being named one of the ISA’s Top 25 to Watch.

Rising Through the Ranks: Screenwriter and playwright Lisa Dring on the love of linguistics

March 10, 2022

From the moment Lisa Dring begins speaking, you can’t help but be drawn in—her beautiful command of language is pure poetry. It’s something the Emmy®’s took note of as well, awarding Dring’s 2021 Outstanding Interactive Program win for Welcome to the...