Screenwriting : What else do you write? by Cherie Grant

I don't write anything else. I'm lousy at prose. I think too much in movie terms. Even when I read fiction, I'm often frustrated by elaborate descriptive passages, or getting a page of backstory about some minor character. I enjoy stories, not prose per se. (Not proud of that, I just know it about myself.) I think screenplays (and maybe tele- and radio plays) are the purest form of storytelling outside, say, campfire stories. (No value judgment there... I'm not saying it's a better art form or a better WAY to tell a story. I'm just saying it's purer.)

I am writing novels as well. I use my screenplay as the backbone to keep me on track but I then go back and fill in the detail and background. This doesn't work for everyone but for me it's the best way I can keep on track and complete a well-written novel.

I don't really write anything else. I only write as far as screenwriting when I'm inspired. I like it that way though.

I've written two comic scripts, a handful of song lyrics, a few short stories, dozens of poems, six novellas, and completed 3 novels.

I've written two screenplays, a few short story's, online articles, and a few children's story's.

Oh, yeah, I forgot song lyrics. I write those occasionally as a hobby. It's a fantasy of mine to some time be involved in a musical, though I have no strategy for how that might happen.

Oh, hell, just remembered I have IMDb credits as a lyricist! For two songs from Ultrachrist!, "What Would You Do? (Ultrachrist's Theme)" and "A New Pro-Sex Kinda Savior". I had forgotten... thank God cinema history has not.

I write novels, songs/lyrics, plays/musicals and spoken-word. :) I love expanding my craft and creating new things that will touch people from all walks of life.

I think it's great for all artists to find enjoyment in as many different artistic pathways as possible. They may not all or any directly impact your screenwriting but they definitely impact your creativity, imagination and many, many other avenues as well. Not just in art, but as a person as well. Personally I write a lot of poetry, random dialogue, character backstories I know will never see the light of page. But painting is something I love as well. Just a few. Awesome Post BTW. Thanks

I like Alan Rudo's comment. I think everything you write makes you a stronger writer. I often write screenplays, and then convert them to novels, and then go back and rewrite the screenplay - it makes it a lot stronger. I writing different forms, you gain experience is structure, in characterization, and in the flexibility to change settings and other things. It all works together.

I think if you write something different than the usual it informs your other writing. like poems. I studied poetry a little bit because I thought it would help with my creative thought processes. What I have found actually is a comedy writing course I did earlier this year. I found another way to help me write jokes better. It was this little tool and ever since I have been writing one joke a day and it is already helping my comedy scripts and further more because I had to learn to come up with a simple idea and find the funny in it it has now helped me write short stories, which I could just never do before. and i think writing short stories will help me write more and better short films and novels which will in turn help me with my screenplays. it all feeds itself in a cycle of sorts.

You have missed my point entirely and written a novel proving how much you've missed the point. I'm not talking about the format of each style of writing. I thought that was clear. I'm talking about the creative aspect. Your analogies are way off base and I don't understand how you got there.

In my first year I writing I explored novel writing and screenplay writing. It's was really interesting to explore the limitations and benefits of both literature and cinema.

I started writing a novel, which has enough to be a series, but I was too verbose so I thought I would try the other extreme of screenplay writing, which I now love too. I now can go back to the novel and make the hard cuts and hopefully it will be a lot better for it. That's after I've written a few more screenplays as I really like this style of writing at the mo. I think it's best to write in as many forms as you can, they can only add to your experience and techniques. I am just converting a short story I wrote into a screenplay :)

I have completed two novels...Currently, I am writing series of books (Fantasy) which I am sure will work well as a teleplay (in the vein of GoT). However, I am concentrating more on the novel side as of now. The first book is going into the evaluation stage by a publisher and I am hopeful it will be selected. I am also a professional ghostwriter... As far as writing for the visual format is concerned, I have written a few shorts and now interested in writing TV scripts. I find TV more interesting.. Coming to the topic, I do agree that one should attempt multiple forms of writing as it would really help us focus both on prose and story telling. Also, it will also play a hand in improving our creativity.

If you never stretch yourself, you never increase your talent or discover new things you can do. But Alle's comment is well taken that writer's should not be pressured to write in different formats - writing in every format shouldn't become the new measure of a writer. Beyond that, considering the difficulty of getting a script made into a movie, writing a book is another approach to getting a story out there and generating interest. But the publishing world of major publishers is not much different than the screenwriting world. It is also a very difficult community to get into. Publishing independently is probably the best bet for most people with books (not vanity publishing).

Dorian, that is great advice. It's great to challenge yourself. I write screenplays, books, short stories and even a play, which was produced. That play was really challenging. The only thing I don't write is essays!

Patricia, I have a similar experience. I took acting to become a better screenwriter, and wrote and produced a play. It was very enlightening about what actors do, and how to write more specifically for a visual environment. It sent me off in a very different direction in writing, even for novels and nonfiction.

I also took acting lessons for similar reasons. It was fun but I was no Meryl Streep

Character development could be pursued in television writing as well.

Hi Cherie, Like you I write novels and in fact find it quite a challenge to adapt my own work. I believe a screenwriter isn't only that. A true scribe can turn their hand to any medium, it's just that the best screenwriters naturally focus on that form. But the original impetus is likely to have been literary. The early screenwriters of Hollywood and Europe were all playwrights and novelists and quite a few journalists too. It's a legacy worth studying, I think. You might be interested to know that the greatest and most celebrated screenwriter of Weimar Germany (1920s to early 1930s) was a woman. Her name was Thea von Harbou and she was the wife and chief collaborator of the great director Fritz Lang. Thea von Harbou was a novelist and poet and something of a mystic too, a real pioneer in film writing. She brought all that into writing scripts. She wrote METROPOLIS, M and all the DOCTOR MABUSE films, which still stand up today. M was effectively the first serial killer movie with a psychological perspective. Sadly we don't hear of her today because she became a Nazi in 1934 and it destroyed her marriage to Lang and she was marginalised by the regime in favour of Leni Riefenstahl. But the ladies were in there from the beginning... Hope it helps and best of luck with the script, Edward St.Boniface

can you give me the exact link of that course??

I started writng a magazine (RagMag type of thing!), then progressed to sketch/ stage writing, had a couple of sketches performed by a professional crew in London which opened my eyes to the chalenges of other people's interpretation of your work and then won a writing comp for an animated series and made the move to screenplays, two complete with two more on the go at the moment. So my experience in different forms has been progressive, of my two completed screenplays, on is an animation and the other live action, so I see your point about different types of writing being good experience but for the time being, I am happy writing screenplays, would like to do a stage play in the future but I have too many ideas that I want to turn in to screenplays currently.

I find that caffeine and anger are an unbeatable combo. Which is to say when you are writing about something that bothers and/or makes you passionate, that tends to be the most honest and sincere writing you do. Sometimes it can take hold of you immoderately and it needs a lot of refining and editing later but I find the more personalised and intimate I get with a scene the better it flows. Often you'll find your characters come most alive when you intensify scenes in this way, or sometimes drop in something annoyingly incongruous that strikes sparks between them, and that irritates you personally. I was thinking of those excellent improvised scenes in the kitchen in the recent AMERICAN HUSTLE between Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence's characters - surprising and sincere and funny and maddening.

I am comfortable with prose since I write it all the time, being a ghostwriter and a wannabe author. Screenplays and teleplays are the other side of the coin. I was not comfortable with it before but now since a year or two, I am becoming used to it and beginning to love this form of writing.

I really only write screenplays. Well that and the occasional article for my website. That being said, I do think that writing, of any medium, will benefit a screenwriter. Great writing is great writing, whatever the form. More importantly, I think even if a screenwriter doesn't write in another medium, that he/she at least READS a lot of different things -- other than just screenplays. Writers who only read scripts - or even worse, only watch movies or TV and don't really read at all - will have a harder time improving as a writer. Using a basketball analogy, shooting free throws can be good (writing, practice) but only by seeing real competition (reading other great writers) can you see how good you really are and get better. A good writer is a good reader.

kudos!!

I don't understand. If you suck at it then work on it. That's what all writers do. That's what you do when you hone your craft in screenwriting. I suck at novels too, but i have gotten better at it over the years. It takes just as much work to write a good screenplay as it does to write a good novel as it does to write a good song.

Everybody sucks at the beginning. The important thing is to learn from your initial mistakes and work on it.

Dan, should you decide to revisit, you can definitely write some prose if you can just put your mind in it. As you said, if you had any choice, you would like a hand at novel writing. Perhaps you are more proficient in the art of screenwriting (that is because you have been honing that art and you are quite comfortable with that form) but you could be good at other forms of writing as well. Just give it another try. Again, no pressures, it is your choice.

Of course, Dan. It is not a compulsion that people must write other forms but it is highly encouraged. Also, it is up to the person what he/she is comfortable with.

the beginning of a new phase then...Good luck :D

Interesting topic. I actually only write short stories (which is my real love), some prose (which I am not very good at), and working on novels as well. I have most of my success as a writer in the short story arena and also some short non-fiction pieces as well. I should also mention I have had two children's books published. I first arrived at Stage 32 due to some pushing from others that I should adopt some of my work to the Screen. i have since come to the conclusion that screenplay writing, is an art-form in and of itself, and I would rather try and either collaborate with a screenwriter or try the normative path of option/selling the written work for a possible screenplay. I know a lot here do not agree but I think mastering the art of screenplay and also breaking into the field, is so different from being an Author, and contains a whole slew of nuances and knowledge that is way different than writing the short story and Novel. Though I still am fascinated by it, it seems to me, that the short story or Novel vs. the screenplay demand two totally different types of writing and concentration upon different areas. I may be totally wrong but after reading a lot of the post on Stage 32 and getting my feet wet in Screenplay writing, that has been my conclusion so far.

I love writing novel prose but there's no way I'd have time to write something so intensive on top of screenplay writing. Plus I think the two are juxtaposed in a few ways.

I initially wrote songs, but my inability to sing put paid to that - then I wrote a 500 page novel, took 4.5 years to complete, did not enjoy the experience - I used the characters from my book set three years later as my first screenplay, loved the experience - have stuck to scripts ever since - writing novels is hard work, people on that journey have my admiration, I could never do it again.

I have some comic book short stories published and a novel partly written. Currently though, all my free time is used for screenwriting.

Dan! Smiles.

I write silly tales to amuse myself. The thinking never stops. I think from the time I get up, until the time I go to bed. Even then, I am still thinking. I write poetry also... and write stories in rhyme. So, yes... yes... yes... I write all the time on anything I can get my hands on... from the back of bills to toilet paper... I even write on the back of the super market receipts while waiting in line.

Writing is writing - no matter what form it takes. My only admonition was to do what you do best. Screenwriting is NOT the same as writing a novel - or a play - or even episodic TV. And success in one format does not guarantee success in another. So don't necessarily put all your creative eggs in a single basket - but when starting out - concentrate your talent on your strength. Don't spread yourself so thin that you end up mediocre at a lot of things. If you're a pitcher with a 98 mph fastball - don't go nuts trying to learn to throw a splitter. The great Mariano Rivera made a Hall of Fame career out of essentially one pitch. One great pitch. Go with yours.

I agree, writing is writing, no matter what form. I started writing an historic-figure and events-based play, which since morphed into a screenplay called "Cakewalk". Three ten-minute plays, several other plays, some travel articles and 3 years research later, I just finished 3rd draft of my screenplay "Wilde About Oscar", sent for more consultant feedback. I'd like to try some short stories and eventually a novel and have lots of background research already to call on. Am sure it pays to have at least tried different forms, before deciding what form you like best... or best suits your style, personal character and time/life-style restraints.

I'll join the club of agreeing that writing is writing no matter what form. But I'll add that I think that the different forms of writing teach you different things. I write novels and short stories on top of scripts, actually I started writing short stories and later moved into longer fiction and then scripts. To me, exploring the different forms of writing allows me to learn lessons I can take from one to the other. There are lessons from novels I take to scripts, and then lessons from my screenwriting classes that I have applied to my novels. It's a job where you'll never stop learning, To me, that's half the fun.

(replying to Dan Guardino posting about threatening letters) Yep - perfect. And the age of the Internet is perfect for the mass distribution of hate mail and highly focussed intimidation messaging too! I was thinking of starting a revolutionary site called HATEBOOK. All assorted religious nutcase fundamentalists and evil-mongers and supercreeps of the continuum are invited to contribute and victimise...

I do novellas too, and I gave up on contests awhile ago. My only focus is my audience and making them happy.

I write or wrote short stories, blog articles(personal opinions, non-fiction), movie ideas and video game ideas..:)

I have written spec-movie scripts, also Stories and Adverts

And there's always the challenge of the micro-Haiku...

...one pungent syllable!

In fact one of the hardest challenges I've faced and set myself is adapting novels I've written to screenplay form. This is a process that has repeatedly forced me to completely deconstruct my own prose and identify the real core of the story that may flow beautifully for me with the freedom of chapter-to-chapter narrative. But when it comes to condensing all that into a blueprint-style screenplay and stripping the story down to absolute essentials I've found it a lot more difficult than a simple linear transfer of story between formats. I've discovered just how HARD good screenwriting is, in other words. The best screenwriters make it look easy. A good story is invisible beneath the visuals of an ordinary movie, and that's the way it should be - you don't notice it and are entirely engrossed. The smallest incongruity in a story has a tendency to glare out of the action and breaks the viewer's concentration, even if just momentarily. By that I mean overly long expository speeches or the incongruous appearance of a character or situation obviously just to move the plot along or a needless action or travelling sequence to pad out the story and many other similar tropes we constantly see in movies where insufficient attention has been given to the screenplay. Every scene counts! Nothing I'd learnt theoretically quite prepared me for that and so over the years I've gained a lot of respect for those screen and television writers past and present who do it so well. Still labouring...

You are absolutely right, Cherie. We need to find other creative outlets. Sometimes a short story works better for what we want to say. Other times, a stage play or a novel, and it is not always easy to translate to a screenplay. So I'm happily writing other things and it is rewarding.

26 children's books, one musical and three TV series, as well as five feature films-No wonder I'm exhausted!

Have written almost all my life. Poetry, short stories (just sold a new one this week), novels (have six as J.R. Biery on Amazon. One, Killing the Darlings, is on sale through Kindle Countdown this weekend (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IRRMO2A). Oh, and four full length screenplays, one short. I've rewritten two of the scripts as novels this year (Chimera Pass - a Western with a monster, and Will Henry - YA novel). Wish I could write lyrics and music, think you guys are all awesome.

Gary.. holy cow. go man.

Thanks Patricia, all in the development stage, except the books, so don't be too impressed, although two features and one series SHOULD be in preproduction before end of August (Fingers crossed)

Most excellent, Gary. Do you mind telling us the names of the features?

Hi Cherie, I love to write in other forms as well. I mainly like poetry, but I have written a play, one act and short story. I agree that writing in other forms is good for a writer, it keeps us creative.

Sure Vaughn, One feature is called "Nulla" and the other is called "The Lucifer Killings" and I'm really excited about both, for different reasons, but mostly pride (I wrote them) and relief (They look like they'll actually be made-Finally) Just super excited.

Thrilled for you Gary. Light at the end of the tunnel. Inspiration for us all.

In addition to screenplays, I write novels, including a four title middle school chapter book series written last year. I write plays and am preparing for a live reading this week of a musical based upon one of my comedy scripts. I wrote the lyrics for all of the show's songs. Basically, I love to write.

Way to go Gary... Good luck with BOTH! I am super excited for you .....

I've had a couple of non-fiction books published many years ago, The Films of the Seventies (McFarland & Co.) and Collecting Political Buttons (Chicago Review Press). I also used to write movie reviews, mainly for a local alternative weekly, and I have written more on modern campaign button for hobby publications than anyone else.

I've written a YA novel, two children's books, and numerous screenplays. Just write!

Poems.

I have written three How To- Out of Kit Make-up Fx reference books, a novel and a number of screen plays, articles for magazines. I love writing. Its even nicer when you get paid for doing it.

Wrote novels first. Eight of them (Nine of them, but the first one we shall never speak of). Adapted two for the screen, and it was REALLY HARD. Just starting the third act of an original screenplay and it's much easier doing original work. Will still write novels - There's one sitting half-finished in scrivener that I'll get to after the screenplay's first draft is completed. Write whatever makes you happy. Even when it doesn't.

You use Scrivener too, Tony? Love that program. Also love how you worded that. Write what makes you happy even when it doesn't.

Scrivener is fantastic. And I can't count the number of times writing hasn't made me happy. But when I'm flowing on a first draft, it's pure exhilaration.

I've written two screenplays and one novel. I find each format has benefits depending on the story I wish to tell. I love that feeling Tony of letting loose and pouring the story out onto the page. Good times....

Commercial's are fun and really challenging to get that less than 60 sec. just right. Plus you have to learn split screen format. Try it, it's a challenge, really but frustratingly fun.

I actually started writing poetry and rap when I was a kid. I continued to write poetry ( 1 poetry book) and songs. Then I wrote a few children's book manuscripts and went on to write screenplays. Now, I'm writing a novel adapted from one of my screenplays. I'm not used to writing in such detail at length. My other writing styles have been about being concise, but it's a great exercise in developing characters, imagery, and plot. So obviously, I agree Cherie.

Cherie, you've given yourself great advice. For those who want to be storytellers, one format isn't enough, nor should it be. Being able to write narrative prose and screenplays can only make you a better writer and storyteller. I've written 18 screenplays and published 8 novels. I tell all my narrative writing students to learn the screenwriting craft to strengthen their narrative skills. Naturally, few take that advice because screenwriting is a chore to learn, and narrative fiction can be done over coffee with skills one has learned in high school. Of course, it will soon become evident that one has to learn those skills a whole lot better if they want to be any good at it.

Currently I am about to finish my forth novel in five years. all novels 180,000 words and ready to be scripted for the movies. the Rose of Jennifer is suppressed by Amazon but available on Kindle. Within weeks I will script a screenplay with a current timeline that must be fast tracked to be successful.

What do you mean, suppressed by Amazon?

And truly, Graham, I wish you the best of luck streamlining an 180,000 word book to a screenplay. If you're planning on doing it yourself, please do a lot of research on how to do it, first. I attempted doing that with one of my books - an 80,000 word book - and it took me forever and, frankly, the end result isn't that good. It's not as easy as you'd think it to be.

Tony, Amazon supressed the novel in print form allowing its sale through kindle. As for 180.000 words I will condense if necessary, next script will come straight from the brain, writing books is therapy slowing down my booze consumption.

I don't understand how Amazon suppressed a novel in print form. Adapting a novel is difficult, I've been paid to do it a few times. It's really much easier to start with an original script idea that was chosen because it works in visual media.

Oh, I so it exceeds CreateSpace's 480 page limit. The haven't specifically suppressed your book. Got it. I'm cleaning up my first original screenplay. MUCH easier to do than adapting.

It must have come on around 700 pages, right? Amazon's POD machine maxes out at 480 pages (I think it's a financial limit, but it might be physical). I max out (reading) at about 400 pages.

Before they suppressed the novel I managed to buy twenty copies from Creataspace. 527 pages.. Shroud over Paradise 493 pages the Golden Malaita Eagle 420 pages hard copy. The latter could be a mini blockbuster.