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: 'Countdown' Creator/Writer Derek Haas

June 30, 2025

“One thing I’ve found in the crime genre is that homicides are always interesting. When somebody’s killed, whatever that case may be, it’s usually compelling drama. So then it’s up to you as the writer to surprise the audience and do things that they...

Write On: 'Apple Cider Vinegar' Creator & Showrunner Samantha Strauss

June 16, 2025

“In my mind, Belle is going through life, at least our version of Belle – I’ve never met the real Belle – she’s going through life with this hole inside, this overwhelming need for approval, that social media absolutely capitalizes on, and she just k...

Write On: 'Matlock' Creator & Showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman

June 9, 2025

“The most important thing that I’ve learned as a storyteller is that I have to treat every character in the show as though they’re the lead in the show, and they are never doing anything so that I can prompt a move from another character. They are do...

Write On: 'Running Point' Co-Creator and Showrunner David Stassen

May 23, 2025

“It’s not ripped from the headlines. We’re not using any of [the Buss family’s] real-life stories and putting them into our show. Because Mindy [Kaling], Ike [Barinholtz], and I have so many influences like Arrested Development, 30 Rock, The Office a...

Write On: 'Hurry Up Tomorrow' Director/Co-Writer Trey Edward Shults

May 16, 2025

“It was a lot of empathizing. I would do long phone calls with Abel (Tesfaye, aka the Weeknd) after we had met, just basically talking to him and finding out more of his history, where he was at in different phases of his life, where he’s at today, a...

Write On: 'Nonnas' Screenwriter Liz Maccie and Director Stephen Chbosky

May 15, 2025

“Sometimes it’s easier to find and access your truth through ‘pretend’ characters. So I had this embarrassment of riches of this true story but in my heart, I was like, ‘I totally get to tell my truth!’… So my advice is find a way to do it, and if yo...

Write On: 'Shadow Force' Director/Co-Writer Joe Carnahan and Co-Writer Leon Chills

May 9, 2025

“For me, I don’t know how you could not make [a script] personal. I think drama allows you to hide how personal it is. I think that’s kind of what I like about writing in the genre space. On the outside looking in, it just looks like a big action mov...

Write On: 2024 Big Break Short Film Winner Brandon Osterman and Seed&Spark

May 8, 2025

On today’s episode, we speak to writer Brandon Osterman, whose short script The Naughty List won last year’s Final Draft Big Break Short Screenplay Category. As part of his prize package, he received a consultation with Sav Rodgers, Marketing Manager...

Write On: 'Good American Family' Creator & Co-Showrunner Katie Robbins and Co-Showrunner Sarah Sutherland

May 7, 2025

“One of the things we talked a lot about in the room is that very rarely do people set about their day saying, ‘Okay, I’m going to go do some evil.’ But for most people, we’re all sort of the leads in our own stories and we’re all crafting the narrat...