My interview w Dexter creator Clyde Phillips & EP/writer Scott Reynolds went up while I was distracted w NBC things 😳 but this is a great read! Two of the nicest & most creative guys in the business!
www.finaldraft.com/blog/killer-...
My interview w Sam Ernst (Haven, Daredevil, Carnival Row, Cross) is finally live on Final Draft's blog. I took a career defining class from Sam back in 2019 that changed the way I think about story. Thrilled to get to share even more of his insight & advice here: www.finaldraft.com/blog/mentors...
If you want to learn 10 steps for crafting killer *and unique* clue-trails quickly (for your screenplay or novel), we start class this Tuesday and there are 2 spots left!
📷 howtoliz.com!
October Classes DEV 101 SATURDAYS - 10/12 - 11/16 This 6-week masterclass covers game-changing development strategies & exercises you can apply to any project, from concept generation to final pitch & script. CLUE TRAILS & CRIME-LINES TUESDAYS - 10/7-10/28 This 4-week murder mystery writing workshop teaches you 10 steps for breaking clue-trails in WhoDunnits & HowCatchEm's. More info at www.HowToLiz.com
DEV 101 "Working with Liz has changed my outlook on the potential of me achieving this dream of a screenwriting career. I have been writing for well over a decade and it wasn't until I started working with Liz that I found the confidence in my own abilities because of her strategic, structured approach. She teaches you the skills you need to create on your own while also providing very specific notes with suggestions of how to fix things without being too prescriptive. She pitches ideas but does it in a way that makes you feel the ownership of figuring out why it's not working and how to improve it." -Andrea O'Malley More testimonials at www.HowToLiz.com
CLUE TRAILS "Liz is an outlier. A gifted writer and Mensa-level puzzle nerd who followed the magic rabbit of her genius into the maze-like warren of the mystery genre, and returned with an enchanted toolbox of practical insights into the craft. You cannot call yourself a writer of procedural fiction if you have not taken Liz Thompson's 'Clue Trails!' -BRENT FORRESTER The Simpsons (Fox), The Office (NBC), Space Force (Netflix) More testimonials at www.HowToLiz.com
Sometimes when writers + #scriptsky feel stuck, they'll retake a pilot writing class or get more notes on a script that's already done, when what they really need are:
1. Sharpened dev skills
&
2. Niche expertise - like how to break a murder mystery
Testimonials, discounts, & more @ howtoliz.com!
Our two Deaf detectives -- Brendan Connelly and Russell Harvard!
Our comedy mystery about 2 Deaf Detectives is 89% funded on Seed&Spark and we've got 15 hours left to get to 100%!
If you want to watch an Edgar Wright style murder mystery with animated captions and a stellar cast please check out our campaign! #scriptsky #filmsky
seedandspark.com/fund/double-...
If you're interested in seeing more Deaf talent in front of and behind the camera - Brendan Connelly, Russell Harvard and the rest of our team are making that happen and you can help us too if you check out our Seed&Spark! #scriptsky
seedandspark.com/fund/double-...
“Do the next right thing”: TV Writing Wisdom from Showrunner Jonathan Groff July 11, 2025 8 min read time What makes a successful writer tick? How do they handle bad news? How have others changed their lives and how do they pay it forward? If you want to learn from the best, you’ve come to the right place. Read on below for a deep dive into the mind of Jonathan Groff, writer and showrunner for such series as Black-ish, Happy Endings, Scrubs and How I Met Your Mother.
My interview with showrunner @notthatgroff.bsky.social is finally up on the @finaldraftinc.bsky.social blog!
Get ready to learn secrets about screenwriting and the real truth behind avocado toast!
blog.finaldraft.com/do-the-next-...
Happy weekend to all but especially to Wheezy, aka one of the GOATS of YT! ❤️
Hey, my friend and incredibly talented mystery writer @howtoliz.bsky.social & co are making a Deaf detective movie. You can help. seedandspark.com/fund/double-...
We're quiche people now!
I have to share the recipe we use, bc this is important & if you're having a bad day a good quiche will turn it around. (I just learned this, I cannot verify this works for everyone & normally avoid survivorship bias but here we are!)
www.incredibleegg.org/recipe/basic...
I'm featured in the latest WGA Written By, and RIP to the uninspired lumps of oatmeal.
www.writtenby.com/career-craft...
An image of a PI Badge for the HAWK DETECTIVE AGENCY for a Detective in Training. There is a spot that says "YOUR PHOTO HERE" and "YOUR NAME HERE" above the title "Detective in Training." The badge also includes an ID #, an issued date of July 2025 and an expiration of December 2030.
Want to see more Deaf leads on your screens?
Want to join the Hawk Detective Agency and get your very own PI Badge?
Check out the link in my bio to see how you can support our comedy mystery project DOUBLE TAKE!
I was worried I wouldn't have anything in common with all my friends who are having babies, but turns out I have a LOT in common with the babies, so it's all working out.
#gimmesnacks #gimmenaps #gimmehugs
If I go to sleep right now, I can be ZERO MINUTES away from my next coffee.
A friendly final call for CLUE TRAILS and DEV 101! There's one spot left in each class -- with classes kicking off this week!
October classes are starting to fill up too!
www.howtoliz.com/home/classes...
My interview with the fabulous @lizcraft.bsky.social is live on the @finaldraftinc.bsky.social blog!
blog.finaldraft.com/screenwritin...
I wasn't planning on teaching these again until Oct. but I had a waitlist + a rave review from LEGEND Brent Forrester (Simpsons, The Office)! 😍 So here they are again, and they're already half-full!
If you dig strategy, development, and/or mysteries, check em out! ❤
❤️ Strategy is my love language 😆
An image graphic that reads: PITCHES THAT SOLD - Monday June 16th, 7pm PST on Zoom. Featuring pitches from LIZ CRAFT & SARAH FAIN - an hourlong that sold to Netflix & LIZ THOMPSON - a sitcom that sold to CBS. WGAW - Writers Guild of America West - Presented by the Committee of Women Writers
Excited to be sharing one of my pitches that sold as part of this WGA - CWW event tomorrow evening! You can sign up to join the Zoom through your WGA dashboard!
*If you're not in the WGA, I share some of my pitches, old & upcoming in my Dev 101 & Clue Trails classes! (see howtoliz.com for those!)
OUT: Joshua Bassett drama.
IN: Winter Bassett (his sister’s) drama.
( www.instagram.com/p/DF9MjK5uvnn/ )
The incomparable Liz Craft (Dollhouse, Lie To Me, The Shield) gave my Clue Trails + Crime-Lines class a shout out on the Happier in Hollywood podcast! ❤️
You can check out the whole amazing ep here:
open.spotify.com/episode/19Bj...
& get 15% off the class here!:
www.howtoliz.com/home/classes...
Also if you haven't seen LIMETOWN, it was written by the same writers of Jordan Peele's new horror film HIM (which was formerly on the Black List as GOAT). Akers and Bronkie are brilliant.
I'm currently teaching a Clue-Trails mystery writing class and this week we're covering HOW CATCH 'EMS, WTFS, and HEISTS and studying ELSBETH, LIMETOWN, and LEVERAGE, and I just wanna say these are three of the most Chef's Kiss shows out there. Go watch them. 10 out of 10. No notes.
One more week 'til we're talking clue trails, who-dunnits, how-dunnits, how-catch-'ems, and how-DO-its (heists!)
An image graphic featuring promotional shots of favorite mystery shows and movies (Psych, High Potential, Elsbeth, Clue, Poker Face, Alex Cross, A Man On The Inside, Knives Out, The Residence, Enola Holmes, The After Party, and Only Murders in the Building) along with the text: "If you like shows and films like these, and you want to write your own but don't know where to start..."
An image graphic listing information about a class: CLUE TRAILS & CRIME-LINES: A Killer Screenwriting Workshop. Zoom. 4 weeks. 2 options. Saturday May 3, 10, 17, 24, 2-4:30pm PST or Wednesday May 7, 14, 21, 28, 6-8:30pm PST. WEEK 1 Review "mystery ingredients." Learn strategies for breaking clue trails and building mysteries. WEEK 2 Analyze clue trail case studies. Build clue trails together. WEEK 3 Pitch a classic clue trail. Study a pitch for a mystery show that's sold in the room. WEEK 4 Review genre and serialized mystery writing tips. $250. For more info: HowToLiz.com
CLUE TRAILS + CRIME-LINES: A Killer Screenwriting Workshop. Clue Trails + Crime Lines is a 4-week screenwriting workshop that doesn’t just study mystery writing -> We’ll actually walk through a multi-step process for how to break a murder mystery AND practice creating our own clue trails. In class, we will primarily focus on classic who-dunnits, but we will also discuss other types and subgenres of mysteries and how to start cracking those too! *This class is for writers new to mystery writing (or who want to brush up their clue-trail crafting), but it is not meant for those new to screenwriting. Ideally you will be comfortable breaking story and will have written at least one script prior to class. Reach out with any questions! For more info, or to sign up, head to HowToLiz.com
April showers bring May-hem and murder…
We’re back, baybee!
If you love mysteries but feel lost when it comes to crafting a clue trail or building out the structure for solving a case, check out the next round of CLUE TRAILS + CRIME-LINES classes starting in May!
More info at howtoliz.com! 🧐🕵🏻♀️🔎
I'm hosting another (almost free) Creative Productivity Hack webinar through @roadmapwriters.com this Saturday - 3/22 - at 12pm PST over Zoom!
It's $5.99 and all of the proceeds are donated to the LA Food Bank to help victims of the Los Angeles fires!
www.roadmapwriters.com/products/pro...
A screenshot of the Apple Books page for the Severance Lexington Letter book. Written by “anonymous”
Apple Books has a free 40 page Severance prequel book called the Lexington Letter and it’s really good! Also if you dig this kinda stuff I highly recommend watching Limetown S1, listening to the podcasts for s2 and s3, and then reading the prequel book. Amazing multimedia experience.
I would love this too, but just to note -- the fires are not out. Watch Duty shows Palisades and Eaton are both 100% contained but still active. Once they are out, they will switch to inactive status.
Recalibrate.
Also -- what's my favorite question to be asked?
"What's your favorite word?"
So. Pretty good day over here I guess.
PBS is now live on Prime — ad-free — and you don't need a subscription to watch.
This marks the first time this programming will be available *free* on a major streaming service.
Channels include PBS Drama, Documentaries, Kids + live feeds for 150 local stations
www.pbs.org/articles/str... #TVSky