If so, what were the challenges you faced?
Some of mine were/are:
Learning how to write a novel. This was much harder than I thought it would be.
Converting from present to past tense. Not a problem in concept, but in practice, things can slip through the cracks.
Getting into the minds of the characters. Thoughts, feelings, emotions all come into play.
Backstory I didn't use in the screenplay needed to become part of the novel.
Writing effective description, but not overdoing it.
Managing the sheer volume of words - With about five times as many words, it's much harder in the rewrite phase. It takes much longer, and keeping the entire novel and all its nuances, twists, facts, etc. in my head is much harder. I keep notes, but even with those, it's often difficult. Even something as simple as the type of watch a character wears can take valuable time referring back or consulting notes.
Plot holes. For example, it's not so easy to leap forward in time. Everything needs to be explained. A simple visual clue won't suffice.
Minimizing the number of adverbs. Every rewrite eliminates more. Some are necessary, but it's good to keep them to a minimum.
The time it takes. I've been working on this for six years. Of course, not full time, as I work, have a home and wife who need attention, and have other projects, plus I've taken long breaks (several weeks or months at a time) to get away from it.
Other things like eliminating "that" as often as possible. Not repeating sentence starts like: He did this. He did that. He picked up such and such. That gets boring fast.
Using the same phrase or words repeatedly. I have a habit of using favorites and have to be careful to not overuse them.
Finishing. It's been very difficult for me to call it "done". But I am going to finish this pass and then turn it over to beta readers. It's time for feedback other than my own.
I'm sure I've had others, but what were some of yours?
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well i didn't but it seems really challenging
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There are a few well known screenwriters that write both novels and screenplays. If they can't sell a script, they turn it into a novel. The writing process isn't the same, but some novels read like movies. John Grimsham's novels come to mind. And Jaws was originally written as a novel and the same writer wrote the script. I believe Gone Girl was the same thing. The problem is that some novels read nothing like movies and take a lot of work to adapt. William Gibson's books have been hard to adapt. Not sure which direction is easier - script to novel or novel to script...
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I've done the novel to script side and the difficulty was what to cut out. I started writing novels and novels are longer and generally too long for a script. Going the other way I think it should be easier because you can add and don't have to take away.
WL, I think that's an assumption some writers might make ( I thought, this should be a snap, the story is already there), but I don't think it's true. I've done novel to screenplay and what made that easier is the fact you don't use anything that isn't seen, heard, or spoken. And everything is there, storywise, you're just removing the parts you don't want to use. The other way around, you're adding about (in my case) 90,000 words plus all the other things I mentioned. JMHO
How do you make money, from spec script to spec novel? Don't you need an audience to read & buy your book?
Dan, if you're asking, is it a tough row to hoe? The answer is obviously, yes. How it becomes a novel is irrelevant. And I anticipate I'll face the same challenges as any debut author. If I allowed the size, scope, and daunting nature of every task I face prevent me from moving forward, I'd never get out of bed in the morning.
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Hey Stephen glad your experience was easier. The novel I did was long and like the Wizard of Oz it can't all be in the movie. I wanted to keep the story the story, not do wild changes to it. It's like cutting blocks out of a Jenga game cut the wrong one and the whole thing might topple. It's also the sacrifice of scenes you love being cut out entirely.
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Hi Stephen! Novelist turn screenplay writer here. As someone who's done both, novels are waaaay harder. So many plates spinning. I thought I'd try screenplay writing when I got blocked on my third book--a very different craft, and yet, story is story. That being said, I'm neither a famous novelist or Hollywood writer, lol. But my favorite laugh is when people tell me, "Just turn your screenplay into a bestselling novel! Then your'e screenplay will sell!" (Really, I heard this a lot.They were serious.) As if writing a bestseller was just a matter of sitting in the chair. Best of luck with ALL your writing!
I hear ya, WL. It's tough tearing apart your "baby".
Thanks, Kim! Your'e right, story is story. But yeah, I found writing the novel is extremely more difficult, even though I had the "outline" in a screenplay. My favorite laugh is, "I should write a screenplay, I have a thousand ideas." As if they're going to just sit down and whip out an Oscar contender. I wish you the best with all of your writing too!
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Thank you and, OMG.Yes. ^^This. If I had a dollar who everyone who's told me they "have a great idea" for a book, movie, screenplay, fortune cookie insert, I could retire.
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Spot on, I had the same issues! My editor's favorite note all over the manuscript was "Sounds like a script"
lol, Kim @ "fortune cookie insert".
Monika, what did you do to address the issues?
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The one good thing about novels is that people can self-publish. There really isn't an equivalent vehicle to have the general public read your script and build an audience.
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To be honest, I am kind of irritated at the pressure to do so, if it is solely to market the actual screenplay. I know that it appears "sexy" now for production companies to get the IP from a book and then make a movie. But if the production company really wants to make a movie, just take the time to read a script along the lines of what you are looking for. But, if it is part of a Transmedia effort, more power to this approach. My concern as a small publisher and editor, is that the mediums are so radically different, I really see no connection whatsoever. A graphic novel makes more sense, but a novel from a screenplay? That is like a top French Chef thinking he can crank out top grade Sushi just cause he knows how to use a knife. I dont think it works like that. Best of luck on your project, though. You are brave to take it on. ---
Because all authors are top French chefs, and all screenwriters are what, home cooks? Prep chefs? No offense, Frank, but that's a weak analogy. I take writing seriously no matter what the medium. I believe I spoke to the process and difficulty involved in learning the craft. I wouldn't want to publish a subpar product, and I don't believe my book will get published by a reputable publisher if it's not of the quality and caliber a reputable publisher demands. It's not my intention to self-publish but I do intend to be taken seriously as an author, and I'll say this, authoring a novel is one hell of an education on writing a novel.
My desire to write this novel had nothing to do with any pressure to sell the screenplay. Maybe that is the case for some, but that's not how I see it. The fact is, I believe this particular story is better told in novel form.
As far as where studios, production companies, and producers get their material, they comb everything, screenplays, books, magazine and newspaper articles, graphic novels, life stories, television series, video games, and anything else that might help them turn a profit, including developing and scripting ideas and pitches.
Anyway, I know I have a tough road ahead. I'm pretty happy with the product so far. There may be some issues I'll need to work out, but I plan to run it through several series of beta reads, and past an editor or two before I start shopping it. I wish you the best with your endeavors, and thank you for the well-wishes.