This is a highly subjective and selective list of resources I have found useful or inspirational.
Script Archives
Between these sites and the sites they link to, if a script or screenplay is available in the public domain for education purposes, you will most likely find it.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts
https://sites.google.com/site/tvwriting
http://www.dailyscript.com/links.html
https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/script-download-links-9313356d361c
Podcasts
There are always new podcasts coming out so this is an incomplete list.
The Screenwriting Life with Meg Lefauve and Lorien McKenna
I was a late arrival to this podcast, but it’s so fantastic. I’d heard both Lorien and Meg on a number of different panels, but this is such an accessible and warm and open podcast with such practical insights. All the stars for this.
I was also lucky enough to interview Meg and Lorien on their own show in a special edition of The Screenwriting Life live from the Screenmakers Conference in 2021, Episode 58.
The Q&A Podcast with Jeff Goldsmith
Originally an offshoot of the now-defunct Screenwriter magazine, the Q&A was for a long time the source of best interviews, particularly with mainstream feature writers. Treading a line between fanzine and craft focus, there are some amazing interviews in this extensive archive. It veered into Marvel and blockbuster fandom for a while, but there is still enough diversity and great interviews to warrant the time.
http://www.theqandapodcast.com/
Australian Screenwriters Podcast
Duncan Richards quietly ran the ASW Podcast for several years until 2024 and it is has an astounding collection of Australian screenwriters interviewed. Of note, the number of examples of the development process, different career paths, writers habits and rituals. Listening to these gave me the information and inspiration to study (and I’ve since been able to thank those writers in person).
Scriptnotes
John August and Craig Mazin have been running this podcast for years. I was a late-comer to it after a friend referred me to the ‘imposter syndrome/fear of writing’ episode (99 – Psychotherapy for Screenwriters, which now requires premium access of $1.99/month). The podcasts can also be downloaded as an app for Android and iPhone.
https://johnaugust.com/scriptnotes
Austin Film Festival On Story
This long-running podcast covers a wide range of genres and topics. Based out of the Austin Film Festival (which is known as the ‘writers festival’) it includes independent film, emerging writers along with more established storytellers and retrospectives. A good use of time!
Draft Zero
With a real attention to craft and process, Stu Willis and Chas Fisher’s Draft Zero podcast combines fantastic guests with deep dives into the how of screenwriting. There’s also a great ‘beginners guide’ series that covers the ‘where to begin’ for writers.
Write On
Produced by Final Draft as an adjunct to their blog, the Write On podcast features a combination of showrunners and feature writers in conversation. The Handmaid’s Tale episode is highly recommended for discussion on the experience of a US show writers room.
https://blog.finaldraft.com/topic/podcast
Screen Australia
Australia’s national screen agency produces terrific resources not just on screenwriting, but also on broader production and industry topics. A must for Australian writers working to understand our industry and pathways to production.
https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-news/podcast
The Writer’s Panel
With a greater focus on television writing, this regular podcast also delivers regular in-depth discussions with predominantly US writers and showrunners.
https://shows.pippa.io/the-writers-panel-with-ben-blacker
Hilliard Guess’ Screenwriters’ Rant Room
A diverse and wide-ranging screenwriting podcast that covers TV, features, craft, deep-dives into specific writers and directors.
https://www.stitcher.com/show/screenwriters-rant-room-2
Social Media
Trying to keep an up to date list of social media resources for screenwriters is a Sisyphisean task that I’m not sure I am going to try to continue to maintain.
The best advice is find your people.
While there are literally thousands of screenwriting groups and communities on Facebook, the only few I will shout out are:
The Screenwriting Life group. On Facebook, the TSL family is an extension of the podcast and a warm and supportive writing community. Writers, you are not alone if you are part of this group.
inkcanada. Open to Canadians and people who are nice to Canadians, it is a true community with moderation, respect, valuable curated content and healthy professional discussions. It’s often my source of breaking screenwriting news on FB.
Zero Draft Thirty. Another Scott Myers initiative, based around writing sprints and getting to a draft in 30 days, ZD30 also provides a global community of serious (professional and aspiring) writers who are supportive and share well. There are often announcements of new scripts for educational download in this group across both feature and television formats.
Adelaide Screenwriters Club. This was a group I co-founded for Adelaide-based screenwriters of all levels of experience. We briefly held monthly social meetups and provide support in the form of knowledge share and notes sessions. It’s on the cusp of either being folded or opened up to other writers as I’m no longer living in Adelaide. If you want to be a part, answer the mod questions and I’ll see you there.
Into The Script (formerly Bang2Writers). This is a UK-based community originally based around Lucy V Hay’s Bang 2 Write website. The community has been handed over to another facilitator.
Facebook can be a wild ride. For a list of the communities to avoid, email me.
reddit, Discord and Slack
There are a growing number of additional writing groups in these channels, mostly focussed on accountability or as spin-offs from conferences (as was the Austin Film Festival Discord).
The reddit screenwriting board is busy – but there’s a lot of noise and bad advice there disguised as confident opinion (which is actually a lot like the rest of reddit).
The long-running Screenwriting reddit also has a discord group. Details on reddit.
There is an accountability group spinoff from TSL on Slack, particularly suited to US timezones, but with a growing number of Australian writers.
Twitter (it will never really be known as X except by techbros) and the rest
Twitter is a disaster since racist Tony Stark took over.
I am no longer active there, but my out of date Twitter list was a list of writers, showrunners and creatives maintained until around 2021. #screenwriting and #tvwriting hashtags. The other useful one used to be #scriptchat, a semi-regular Twitter chat.
Bluesky, TikTok and Threads have never quite found their screenwriters but realistically they are there for seeing what creators are doing but are not the best use of time for screenwriting. There are some great writers and creatives on Instagram. Find me there @meaningbusiness and @byjonathanchamp.
Hear me out. I know there’s a very justified tradition of hating on LinkedIn if you are in creative industries as it’s got some very weird history, and can be very sales spammy.
BUT, and it’s a big but – screen industry businesses are there, producers are there, networks and streamers are there. If you are at the stage of considering the business, markets, production companies, sales and distribution – things that shouldn’t drive your writing but that do help your understanding of the business of writing – then LinkedIn is an invaluable resource.
Blogs and Sites
Scott Myers and Go Into the Story
One of the first screenwriting teachers I followed on Twitter was Scott Myers. His magic 1, 2, 7, 14 formula is a great productivity guide for creative industries.
https://gointothestory.blcklst.com
BBC Writers Room
In addition to news and articles, the BBC Writers Room site hosts screenplays and scripts for many UK productions.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom
On Story
A spin-off of the Austin Film Festival, On Story is a collection of articles, podcasts, video content and other materials all on the art of story, predominantly on film.
Script Magazine
Published by Writer’s Digest and a content partner of Final Draft, Script Magazine has a combination of articles, podcasts, and other resources across the spectrum of performance writing.
Bang 2 Write
Provided you can avoid the multiple email signups (by signing up), Bang2Write provides very useful craft-based articles on screenwriting and prose. This community on Facebook is also a wealth of great tips, UK opportunities.
Blacklist
A place for scripts to be registered and read, the Blacklist also is now the home of Scott Myers Go Into The Story.
Other support and resources
Paid Communities
Within the contest industry, there are a number of paid communities or sites that allow you to host scripts, seek connections, or take additional training. Technically, The Screenwriting Life Workshops community is one of those – I find it worth the investment.
Other options include Studio 32, The Screenwriters Association, The Blacklist.
Contests, Competitions and Fellowships
There is a lot to say about script competitions – the great, the ordinary, and the waste-of-time. Your approach to contests will depend on where you are in your emerging writing journey.
Choosing the right contests is an important part of gaining pre-credit attention for your work. It can also be financially prohibitative to enter multiple competitions.
It can also be a great way of getting notes on your work, depending on the contest. However, it’s important to remember that the contest industry is largely fuelled and paid for by the hopes of emerging writers, and the reward or return on investment should be considered carefully.
If you want to discuss your contest strategy, get in touch.
Guilds
The Australian Writer’s Guild provides industry support for all forms of performance writing in Australia. Like all writers’ guilds, there are multiple tiers of membership for those entering the industry and those working. In addition to a number of writing competitions, industrial and contract support, the AWG has committees in each state responsible for connecting and delivering events to members. I am a former AWG South Australian committee member.
Suggestions
Obviously, there are a ton of amazing resources out there. If there’s something that you find amazing and helpful, please let me know in the comments or get in touch.
by jonathan champ 
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