I could not be more thrilled to have HBO Max & Deadline reveal this news. 2022 winner Matt Thomas’ pilot Debbie is on its way to the small screen, packaged by Finish Line. Huge Congrats to Matt. We’re all very excited. Enter the right competition, you just might get a tv show made.

A reminder: Nothing is important to think about and stress about until your script is in the best possible shape. No managers, no producers, no money, no nothing.

Stop doubting yourself. finishlinescriptcomp.com

“The mere act of writing is an act of optimism.” Who's having trouble today/this week/this month? Share and let's see if we can be of assistance.

Need everyone's help: We're casting a horror film from one of our writers. The great Jenn Wexler is directing. We have financing dependent on cast. The lead is a 25-30 white female. Please give us suggestions! Remember, they have to have bankability. Thank you and please RT!

If it ain’t got no soul, it ain’t gonna sell.

Congrats to Ragtime and to our 2023 Winner Jason Forbach who is in the supporting cast. His script, Memory Play is being produced by Christine Vachon and is out to directors! Talented guy!

There are no neutral choices: every decision we make, including the choice to do nothing, sets something in motion. And trying to play it safe often means we end up playing small. Write the script Enter the competition Get the notes Send the scary email Reach out to someone you met who might help Start planning your short/feature film TAKE ACTION

You are not a failure if you or others don't love your script right away. 6 pages of intensive, actionable script notes help you to rewrite & resubmit new drafts for free. finishlinescriptcomp.com

So thankful to @FinishLineScrip, my co-creator, @BradleyBredeweg, and @itsgabrielleu for believing in my writing and allowing me to experience what developing a TV show at the very best network in the world, is like. @HBO #DebbieHBO deadline.com/2026/06/gabriel…

.@MrMattThomas is a Brit living in LA. Former standup. Wrote a few episodes for a show called Joker’s Downfall (Asian based crime show, not produced). Entered competitions. Scored big. We started working with him in 2022. This is how long it can take. Give yourself time.

Good writing habits include letting your work be imperfect and taking in feedback. Your writing will improve through contact with the world, not being isolated from it.

Couldn't be prouder of Matt Thomas, one of our 2022 winners. And for us for developing and packaging the script.

Our Early Bird submissions have only been open for a few weeks but one of the first scripts that was submitted was so good we contacted the writer immediately and introduced her to a friend at Paradigm, where she has now been signed. We're working with them/her to develop the script from a limited series to an ongoing series. Paradigm will package. Congratulations Jessica. This show will win awards.

This is a reminder that it takes one person to help your writing career move forward (other than yourself). One person who believes in you. They're in competitions, the 400 query letters you send out, the writing seminar you attend or writing group you work with. Every writer's career has started with one person saying "I want to help you".

Risks are very small for following your intuition and the passion in what you want to write. Go ahead, make illogical leaps between your obsessions and the oddest thoughts, feelings, and images that pop up as you write. Enjoy your writing process. Play. Keep in mind that although the risks may be very small, the payoffs can be truly spectacular. Try it and see. You literally have nothing to lose.

Screenwriters! Some thoughts on Character Outlines: 1. Where is this character emotionally at the beginning of the story? Not their backstory — their present. Are they: Guarded? Restless? Comfortable but unfulfilled? Actively avoiding something? This establishes a baseline. Without it, growth has nothing to push against. 2. The Want vs. The Need Want: What the character thinks will fix their life Need: What will actually force them to change These should not be the same thing. A character who wants safety may actually need vulnerability. A character who wants control may need trust. This tension becomes the engine that powers your character’s story. 3. The Internal Lie Every strong character believes something that isn’t entirely true; an internal rule they live by. Examples:“If I rely on anyone, I’ll lose myself.” “Love always costs more than it gives.” “If I slow down, everything will fall apart.” This lie shapes their decisions long before the plot does. Once you’ve outlined who your character is, the story stops asking “What should happen next?” and starts asking:“What would this person do next?” Plot can be clever. Twists can be surprising. But readers stay for characters who feel real under pressure.