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.

Why Short Stories Are Better Than Pitches

May 17, 2024

If there’s one thing I know about screenwriters, they love the process of pitching their movie ideas to industry professionals.

5 Screenwriting Insights from a Professional Script Reader

May 7, 2024

Screenwriting can raise many questions or doubts about whether something is working. While asking your friends to check out your screenplay can be helpful in some ways, having a professional give you feedback can help you create a great, sellable scr...

Writers' Room Etiquette for Screenwriters

May 7, 2024

Picture this: somehow, through the ups and downs of showbiz, after many scripts written and not produced, you’ve managed to get staffed on your very first TV show. Congrats! The writers’ room is where TV is born, and while landing a TV writing gig is...

Jennifer Kassabian Takes You Inside the Writers' Room for a Day

April 23, 2024

Landing a staff writing gig on a TV show is pretty much every aspiring screenwriter’s dream. However, what exactly goes on in a writers’ room remains a mystery for those starting their careers. How long are the hours? Who writes which episode and why...

Moonshot Initiative Wants To Help You Pitch Your Pilot in Hollywood

April 12, 2024

Getting into a room to pitch your ideas for a new series is the dream for screenwriters. These meetings are a big part of selling scripts, landing writing assignments, or breaking into writers' rooms in Hollywood, but getting into the room can seem i...

3 Must-Ask Questions Before You Write a Sellable Script

April 9, 2024

In my article "Big Story, Small Budget," I wrote about how you should be mindful of production costs when deciding what to write because it’s a major factor in why scripts get bought and produced. Generally speaking, the more cost-effective the proje...

Write On: WGAeast Mentors Andrew Bergman and Caroline Kaplan and NY Screenwriting Fellowship Mentee Irina Rodriguez

March 13, 2024

“Just write a story you want to tell and don't try to write something which you think you can sell to somebody because that way is madness. You have to write what you want to write whether it works or not for other people. But if it's not authentic t...

What is a Spec Script?

May 9, 2023

If you're a new screenwriter you might be wondering what a spec script is. Well, it's spelled S-P-E-C, it's pronounced "speck" and it stands for "speculation."

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...