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.

Write On with 'Mrs. America' Showrunner Dahvi Waller

April 21, 2020

Mrs. America showrunner Dahvi Waller discusses what makes this story relevant now, details that are important when writing a period piece, lessons she learned working on Mad Men and more.

Fellowship Season Prep Part 1: Mining Memories

April 17, 2020

Every spring, aspiring TV writers zhuzh up their spec scripts, polish their pilots and brace themselves for fellowship season.

Weekend Writing Inspiration: 5 Steps to Take When Your Plot Rocks But Your Characters Fall Flat

April 17, 2020

A few weeks ago, I wrote about what to do when your writing strengths lie with character, but your plot and structure skills aren’t as strong. Today, we’re tackling what to do when your plot and structure skills are strong, but you struggle with maki...

Write On with 'The Quarry' Co-Writer and Director Scott Teems

April 17, 2020

The Quarry co-writer and director Scott Teems discusses what draws him to morally ambiguous characters, his work on television shows like Rectified, his advice for writers just starting out and more.

Screenwriting Rolemodels: Diablo Cody

April 16, 2020

No one saw her coming.

Write On with 'Little Fires Everywhere' Showrunner Liz Tigelaar

April 15, 2020

Little Fires Everywhere showrunner Liz Tigelaar discusses adapting the novel for television, assembling an inclusive writing staff for the show, her writing process and more.

Rising Through the Ranks: Nadia Madden

April 15, 2020

Just a few years ago, Nadia Abass-Madden was working her decades-long job as a 911 operator. Today, she’s using her longtime career to inform her writing on Fox’s procedural drama, 9-1-1. She saw her name in the credits for the first time on March 30...

Weekend Movie Takeaway: Screen Narrative In the Time of COVID-19

April 13, 2020

If COVID-19 hadn't completely upended the entertainment industry, and indeed life as we know it, right about now we would be reporting on what would've been the undoubtedly high box office takings for the latest James Bond film, No Time To Die.