Screenwriting : Selling a novel as a movie idea. by Jay Baer

If you have a Published novel, published by a real publisher - meaning not self published - then your literary agent should be able to reach out to film execs and get your book attention. if you want to be the one writing the script then you should come up with a pitch on how the script will be different. If your novel has Not been published yet, is not slated for publishing, and you have no book agent then that's what you need to do first. if you self published the book and it has sold under 50,000-100,000 copies, then you will need to write the script because very few give a crap about self published books.

Make sure it's more than just a novel idea. I've heard some publishers claim that author's shouldn't do such as it will harm their craft. Screencraft is not above but it is much harder to get to fruition is what another writer with successful novels told me.

Do a treatment and register it with WGA...for starters...

Thanks so much all. John, How many pages should the treatment be? Should I cover everything in my book or just the most important scenes?

Hey Jay! What is the novel about? Can you pitch it, right quick?

Totally what Danny said. You do not need a treatment, your novel has an LOC copyright. When a producer buys a novel (or comic book, etc) what they are really buying is that novel's readers. I don't know if anyone cared about the story in FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, what they cared about was that it was a massive Best Seller. So that's what they will care about your novel: is there a huge audience that they can pull into the cinemas if they make a film from it? Usually publishers slip galleys of novels to producers looking for a sale to Hollywood, which they can use to promote the novel. "Soon To Be A Major Motion Picture". Did your publisher do that? If they got no response, then it becomes totally up to the sales figures whether Hollywood will want it or not. But even with great sales figures, Hollywood may have no desire to buy your book. A friend of mine sold a novel to Random House, who wanted 2 sequels, his book was their big fall paperback, got great reviews, made best lists, sold well... but no call from Hollywood. It didn't fit what Hollywood was making at the time. There is a whole list of Best Sellers for Hollywood to pick from, so they can afford to be picky. As Danny said, talk to your literary agent and publisher. They are the ones who can get the book in the hands of Hollywood or explain why, when they tried, it didn't sell.

Perhaps you don't need a treatment registered with WGA since your novel's copyright and common law literary property rights may protect your idea but you may want one to facilitate script development and rights sales. Generally a film's treatment is like an overview/synopsis of the film idea. It usually ranges between approximately 8 to 15 pages and includes all the important conceptual elements telling the story, structured in 3-5 acts. Each act has a beginning, middle and end. When you eventually submit the script, your treatment will often be the first document to be considered. If you get someone else to write the screenplay, it will help them carry out your vision (in addition to book itself).

What Danny and William said. If you haven't self-published the novel yet -- your bio here suggests that's the case -- and if a movie sale is your priority, then work at getting a traditional publisher and agent (in reverse order) to take it on. While Hollywood studios like novels that have been vetted by traditional publishers, the only way self-publishing will likely attract attention in Lotusland is if it's one of the top sellers on Amazon for a number of weeks running. And then only if it fits into a genre the studios think is hot at that moment.

Thanks again everyone. Great info.

Jay Baer: has your self-published book been reviewed? If not, KIRKUS has a paid service for self-published books. Find out more at their web site.

Hey Jay, we have VARIOUS webinars all about how to option a book and turn it into a screenplay. Had one today on adapting a book into a screenplay. To see these webinars, go to the top menu bar and go to education, stage 32 next level webinars. Best of luck!

Thanks so much Shannon. Sorry it took so long to get back to you. Jay

You could always sell the book on Amazon. With enough publicity, they'll be lots of studios after it.

Thanks.It's on Amazon. Now what?

Wait until it's requested? If so, the order can become either or, depending on what is asked of you. You could, if you want, familiarize yourself with the particular screenplay format needed.

I wrote a book that I want to sell as a movie. It's self published. Title angels of death. It's about two women in their mid 20s that are on the run for murder, they become pills for hire I'm realizing the chiller

The only “angels” I like in movies are like the one in “It’s A Wonderful Life.” I prefer movies that are joyous and uplifting and inspiring to most fare often found out there.

If you want to play the odds then a well-written screenplay adapted from a novel would have a better chance of selling than just the novel.