Screenwriting : Screenplay or Book by Andrea D. McGee

More screenwriters are self-publishing their screenplays as novels for a reason ... you can actually develop an audience/ readers and make some money and maybe even get your book optioned for development (great because you already have a script). But self-publishing has changed a lot and it's not as "easy" as it was a few years ago. Glutted market, sales/distribution challenges, author visibility is harder and harder, etc. You are facing a real uphill battle self-publishing, but it's really the only way to go if you want a career as a writer. Screenplays IMO are dead ends. Keep writing them (I do), but writers have to be in multiple spaces now to be successful ... the days of saying you are only a screenwriter are done. Diversify ... and you won't be sorry ... it's working for me, and I suck at sales and marketing... so it's worth looking into. Seriously. :)

... but... (just to add) ... writing a novel is a whole other animal for screenwriters. Totally different sensibility and craft. REad this blog post about the differences to know what you might be getting yourself into.

https://www.stage32.com/blog/Script-to-Novel-The-6-Biggest-Hurdles-to-Tu...

I had moments when I had your thoughts Andrea, although my heart says "go for an adventure!", my head brings me back to reality...that a novel is s completely different thing. I suggest you try to write a chapter of a novel you have in mind...I did that and was exhausted! That put me off novels for a while...but again, it might be what you really like! You'll never know until you try :)

Thanks Jeff for the great advice and the link. I really appreciate it. It makes sense to be more than one thing now. And that's an excellent idea, Martina. I will try that first to see if it's something I can stomach. :)

Such great input here already!

Here come my two cents.

I am approaching from the other side - turning one of my novels into a screenplay. I usually write pretty "scrennplay-ish" - my novel editors always ask me to expand scenes that would work beautifully in a screenplay but need another kind of foundation for a novel or need to end differently in a novel.

Right now I am deleting scenes, I am deleting characters, I am basically ripping the whole damn story apart to piece it back together.

The fundamentals of storytelling stay the same, but it can be a challenge to convert one into the other. Still, with a novel it is definitely easier to go the DIY road.

Andrea D. McGee I'm not certain how much of the story you've developed or what your process/method is but I was going to suggest you write a treatment. That way, it can help you develop and craft your story, act as a marketing document when you are seeking a producer and if it catches fire, you can just keep going and just do it as a novel. Once you're done, you can always write the script after the fact - "Gone Girl" being a recent and well-known example. If the treatment doesn't seem to be taking off, then you can always give the script a try. Hope this helps.

In my experience, it's easier to get a novel published than sell a screenplay. The literary world is much more open than the closed ranks of the screenwriting industry. My guy does both and has had zero problems finding a publisher (helps that he's super talented of course) but has yet to get more than a toe in the door for screenplays. He's been hounding me to write a novel. As much as I love screenwriting, I may do it, only because optioning a successful novel is a real possibility, whereas selling a spec script is the slow melting snowball's chance in hell.

Thanks guys! Everyone has such wonderful advice. Why haven't I been using Stage 32? I mean really, this is tremendously helpful. :)

Depends on your personal goals and skill set.

I say go for the adventure! There is no reason you cannot wrote BOTH the screenplay and the novel.

I first found it hard when I started screenwriting. I always was a writer but mostly short stories and now have started my first novel. If you need any help shoot me a message I would be glad to give you a few tips

You guys are awesome! Looks like I'm going on a little adventure. I will keep posting through my journey and may even start a blog about it (also never wrote a blog before). I guess you'll never know what's at the end of the road if you never go down it. Unless it's a short road. At that point, you can probably just see what's down there :) I have a feeling this is going to be a very long road though. Thanks again everyone! I'm always open to advice and good vibes.

Just a last note from me on this ... one thing that you will find if you adapt a script to novel is that the subplots will expand. You'll discover stories within your story! You can't really have subplots in movies ... TV shows yes because the canvas is more novel-like, but not in movies. I'm writing two novels based on my old scripts and it's amazing how they are opening up to more characters and expanded worlds. This is often a big problem for screenwriters because they haven't really developed the major subplots of their scripts and will have to expand them for a novel. This is where story skills are critical... because you're back in development again, like it or not.

Thanks, Jeff! I didn't think about that. Now I will :)

I've only adapted some of my novels into screenplays, never the reverse. Different horses of different colors to be sure. I'd recommend writing two or three chapters, Andrea, to see how it goes, and how you take to a new medium, before deciding. Good luck!

How do you know the same concept works for a novel and a movie?

I will test the waters. I have not written the story yet. The reason why I play with the notation of writing a novel is that initial story just feels like a novel to me. I am used to screenplays, but every time I picked up my fingers to start this particular story, my mind kept telling me that this is a novel. I never had that feeling before and I decided to ask other writers.

Dan, I think a strong story can transcend mediums, but I am not sure about anything until it happens. All I can do is what I have always done, write it and see. It may not work. It is something new to me. That's why appreciate all of this useful information, guys. I really had no idea how to go about this. I have a much better idea now thanks to you all! :)

Dan---that's a great question. In my experience going from book to screenplay almost always means reworking the premise from the ground up so it can work in a smaller container. And going from script to novel can also require a major reworking of the premise to accomodate the bigger story space. Usually only really high-concept genre stories translate with little re-development at the premise level. I think screenwriters get into a lot of trouble assuming it's just a straight transfer of concepts from one form to another. Rarely the case.... my 2cents.

It is something I have to think hard about. I thought the suggestions about writing a chapter or two and see if I can do made sense. Dan, Jeff and Aray, I see what you are saying too. It may not translate well into a novel. Well, to be honest, it may simply not translate well at all. It's in the early stages of development. With the sub-plots that I had in mind and the story itself though, it screams novel to me. (based off of novels I have enjoyed) I just feel it in my gut. I honestly have never thought about writing a novel until now. If anyone wants to hear about it let me know. Maybe that would help too. :) I am new to all of this, putting stuff out there so I will be upfront and honest... I am a horrible pitcher. But I know I need to get better. I think there are options through Stage 32 to help with that. But this why I haven't pitched the story itself. I was still playing with the idea of screenplay or novel. I'm sure picking one over the other would change the story anyway. At least a little bit. I just want to give the story its best platform. You guys are helping so much! Thank you.

Maybe beginning with an outline can help you see where the story takes you? Characters tend to be very expressive beings. So, you might be able to gauge whether they are taking you more inward or outward. When I read books, I feel like I spend more time inside the character(s). Whereas in movies, I feel like I spend more time outside the character(s)...even when they are dealing with internal issues. So, maybe an outline can tell you which way your characters are leaning and guide you to what's best for your story?

I too have the same doubt. Sometimes, I think to go with the book. Sometimes, with the screen play.. What to do?

I believe success comes from mastering craft. Jack of all trades don't get paid. Jus saying'. I would focus on one or the other. The average time to be a pro screenwriter is 15 years. This writing and screenwriting game is a game where good don't mean sh@t. We have to be great. Hope this helps.

Great point, Shawn!

While I am totally sure that what Shawn Speake says (success from mastering crafts) is true, I still believe that one can learn one craft easier once one has mastered the first. The principles of great storytelling stay the same, no matter if it's a book or a movie or a TV series or whatever.

Right now I am at a point in my life where I feel I have taken many wrong turns, and screenwriting is what I never did but have been wanting to do since I was 17 or so. So ... I could curl up and wail now - or I could master the new craft. I am going for the latter. If it takes 15 years - so be it.

Another key factor is time. I don't have enough as it is.