John August

John August is the author of the Arlo Finch series of middle-grade novels. With Craig Mazin, he wrote 2025's Scriptnotes: A Book about Screenwriting, based on their long-running hit podcast.

John’s screenwriting credits include Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Frankenweenie, Corpse Bride, Aladdin (2019) and the two Charlie’s Angels films.

In 2014, John created Writer Emergency Pack, a tool for writers used in thousands of classrooms worldwide. Originally a record-setting Kickstarter, it’s now available on Amazon.

Born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, John is an Eagle Scout. He's happy to show you any knot you need. He earned his journalism degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and his film degree from the University of Southern California. He lives in Los Angeles.