Hey everyone!
I’ve spent seven years immersed in novel writing, but recently, I’ve found myself drawn to the world of screenwriting. It’s thrilling—and a bit intimidating—to realize how differently stories unfold on the page versus on the screen. As I make this transition, I’d love to tap into the Stage 32 community’s wisdom on where to focus first to sharpen my skills and make my scripts as gripping as possible.
In novel writing, it feels natural to linger in a character’s thoughts, build layers of internal conflict, and luxuriate in long, descriptive passages. But when shifting to screenwriting, the spotlight moves to brevity and visual clarity.
From ChatGPT:
Write Visually
In a screenplay, everything is externalized. Rather than relying on a character’s inner monologue, I’m learning to show their conflict and transformation through action, dialogue, and setting. Learning to “think in images” is huge for me.
Focus on Structure & Pacing
Novels can meander; screenplays need a clear spine. The three-act structure (or whatever structure you’re using) is more rigid, with each beat carefully placed. This helps maintain tension scene-by-scene, ensuring each minute on screen keeps viewers “watching me for one more second, second by second.”
Dialogue With Purpose
In novels, dialogue can reveal internal emotion in subtle, winding ways. In screenplays, every line counts. I’m trying to make sure each piece of dialogue pushes the story forward or reveals something new about the characters.
Cinematic Tension
I want my screenplays to be more than just “read;” they need to be seen and felt. So I’m challenging myself to craft moments that a director could visually capture—suspenseful silences, impactful reveals, or even specific angles that amplify emotion.
Lean Into Collaboration
Novel writing can be solitary; screenwriting is team-oriented. I’m getting comfortable with the idea that others—directors, actors, cinematographers—will ultimately shape my story, too. Embracing that collaborative spirit seems key in making my screenplay truly come alive.
Conclusion:
I’m hoping to build a toolset that transforms my writer’s lens from “tell me” to “show me” in ways that will captivate an audience on screen. If you’ve walked a similar path, I’d love to hear your insights:
Where did you concentrate your efforts first when pivoting from novels to screenplays?
Which craft books, courses, or script gurus helped you most?
How do you keep audiences on the edge of their seat, moment to moment?
Feel free to drop any tips, resources, or experiences you have in the comments. Thank you in advance for helping me—and maybe other writers transitioning from prose to film—breathe life into our visions!
Looking forward to the conversation,
Michael S. Clarke
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Some great advice I got from a seasoned professional when I was revising my adaptation of my novel, Artania, was that film is visual medium. Thus I tried to make sure to focus on those symbolic visuals that the viewer could latch onto. You are right that in a novel you have lots of space to wax poetic with things like internal dialogue. In screenwriting you don't have that luxury. Instead you have to reveal the most important aspects of character through actions and dialogue. Show don't tell is even more important in screenwriting.
Hope you're enjoying the process. I like the challenge of going back and forth between the two mediums. Happy writing!
1 person likes this
Good points. It is a fun exercise to visualize the scenes of a movie or TV series. However, the showing part is the most challenging. You have to turn the scenes from a book inside-out or outside-in and just imagine how a shell shocked soldier might see the battlefield, and how they look to the audience. That as opposed as to what is going on inside their head.
I recently made the jump from novels to screenplays too, Mike Clarke . My favorite thing about it is that I can write a rough draft of a 120 page screenplay in 6-8 weeks, where a novel takes me closer to 6-8 months. Seriously though, the other experts here have better advice than I could give since I'm more in your shoes experience-wise.