Screenwriting : Novels vs Screenplays by Simon Hartwell

It depends on the level of success your novel has had and it's pre-existing value as an IP. If it's been at the top of the New York Times Bestseller list for a solid period of time, has won some top awards or Oprah is telling everybody who watches OWN to read it, it has value as a novel and a pitch for turning it into a movie will be appealing to producers. If it's just a novel with mediocre sales (or no sales) it's as valuable as any other idea for a movie (and perhaps less so, if it already went to market and didn't do well). Ideas and pitches, even of good ideas, are not very valuable unless they come from a known, reliable source. Solid screenplays with killer hooks are valued. But even they are more often than not just part of your interview process to land an assignment on an existing project that's already a successful IP or an idea that's been in gestation long before your screenplay crossed an exec's desk. The point is, write a killer screenplay using your novel as a template if that's the story you want to tell and pitch that. But unless your novel meets some of the criteria above, it's better not to mention it as a novel at all. It's usually a big amateur red-flag warning to producers.

Hi Simon. My question is - do you want to write the screenplay or just pitch the novel as a project?

Hi Hi all, many thanks for taking the time to respond. Some very good points.

I am a self published author through Amazon and as such, promoting the books is down to me. My thinking, converting one to a screenplay would open up other channels of opportunity - Stage 32 / Innktips and so on.

David T - my sales are less hitting the heights of the amazon charts, more underpinning the foundations upon which they sit, so I am reflecting on your thoughts and my writing to date.

D Marcus - I have novels which I think will make great movies (I suspect all fiction writes feel the same way) and wondered whether it was worth converting one into a screenplay and posting on Inktips.com or sending directly to Producers through Stage 32.

Dan G - that makes sense and was my thinking but wanted to check before investing in a conversion project. (Novel to screenplay)

Clare - what is a treatment? Is it that grading system on Plot, Profit and so on, I saw on another posting?

I know what you mean Simon, I struggling with Dreams I had about Judah Lewis (male actor in Summer of 84) However, these dreams were so strange but it encouraged and inspired me to write them all down it was more I had then one but, which it actually turned out to be actually nice story that is all about him. I tried to contact him on twitter to tell about it but, he won't message me back but, I know what your struggle is, But, My personal struggle is that I have to turn this real-life story into either a screenplay or movie script and I may have to take a course to help me do that at either Screenwriter's university or ask my screenwriter teacher when I take her course in 2018. So I feel where you're coming from Simon.

50 Shades of Grey was self-published. That got made into a film. Sure, it got picked up by a publisher once it had generated the success it did from word-of-mouth, and that may well have led to it being made into a film (though there's nothing to say that someone else might not have picked it up) but it was definitely self-published initially.

A treatment will only work if you've already established yourself as a paid screenwriter. Treatments are more of a writer's tool these days and not, usually an acceptable form of pitching your idea. You need a finished script to go along with your logline and short pitch - 1 - 2 paragraphs. Just keep it to one page with lots of space.

Simon, that's why I asked my question. The answer to your choices may lay in what YOU want to do. If you want to be a screenwriter then it might be worth writing a screenplay. If you don't want to write a screenplay it might be better to pitch the novel directly to producers.

That is a good Point D. Marcus, If you haven't convert your Story into a Script Then leave it be and Just pitch the Novel, The Documented True Story, to the producer and hope to spark an interest. That's A Great Idea.

Good morning all. I hope you all had great weekends.

Many thanks for your comments. So many great points.

I agree, whether screenplay or novel it's a long shot so might as well pitch the existing novel, and before doing so, it's best to have some significant sales behind it.

I suspect too, that it is harder to gain interest in a self published book unless it has soared the heady heights of the New York Best Seller List or topped the Amazon charts as it lacks the presence of Agent and Publishing House, though there are always exceptions.

Writing a screen play is something I have thought about but I would say, at this time, no I am not screenwriter. I read the other day that screenwriter and novel writing don't necessarily go hand in hand (David Heyman) so some research necessary there, I think.

I've really appreciated the feedback. Many thanks.

Simon

I turned my short stories into screenplays. my short stories are actual events that has happen in my life. This is why my book about turning true stories into screenplays it's called, "BASED ON A TRUE STORY" You should do it. Write a screenplay about your book. Try even coming up with one or more screenplays from the same novel.

That's a Great idea.,l CJ Brodie, I will try to remember that when writing my current story/ Even though this story I am doing is about a current male actor already so hopefully his character can be made more interesting. I like your ideal about developing additional screenplays from this one story. I was thinking of developing a Children's Book along with that screenplay. So good advice CJ. How do you get a director to read this true Story and how do you present this story so you will encourage a director, producer to want to read the entire screenplay script any suggestions CJ ?

Many thanks for advice CJ, it is a project that is hovering at the moment and may well land. I have a couple of ideas of my next novels and may plough into those in the New Year. Hi Stanley, actually the idea of Directing myself is an interesting one, especially considering the unlikely event David Yates or Chris Columbus being available or even interested. i didn't know that first time directors made the most profitable features. My thoughts turned to script writing as I imagined this would be the 'format', not just would be Producers were used to seeing, but Directors, Actors, and so on, as well. The interesting parallel between Novelist and Screenwriter I have drawn from being a member of this site, is the challanges are similar if not the same. Trying to find an Agent, or a Producer, generating interest in ones work, never really knowing whether the manuscript is really good enough, or indeed, any good at all are challenges every writer faces and the odds are stacked against them. Especially at Christmas when it seems everyone is bringing out their latest book. I need to buckle down and return to the keyboard, write more and hopefully land that one novel that ignites the interest and passion of the readers.

Hi Simon. I have a little experience at this.

My ex was the novelist and I was the scriptwriter. Basically, scriptwriting (as you prolly know) is a separate contract line item when you sell your novel.

Your agent will typically negotiate this and it typically works against your selling price because the publisher says they will have to pay someone to write the screenplay to your novel.

Well... If you already HAVE a screenplay, your agent can tell the publisher "no... WE have the screenplay...". And your bottom line price is higher.

At least, that's the way it worked for me.... That was back in the 90s - IP laws might be completely different now

I have went straight to a screen play with one of my stories. usually if I decide to do a screenplay i would use my book story. interesting but very hard.

No. Is my first reaction. Then a question. Do you want to be a screenwriter? They are completely different disciplines. If you are a good novelist, sell the film rights and stick to what you are best at, novels.

If you really want to be a screenwriter, write a treatment.

Realise that selling a screenplay is 100 times hard than a novel. You can self publish a novel on Amazon for virtually nothing. Selling a screenplay you are asking people to spend millions to bring your dream alive. Sure there is a profit, but that is a gamble no matter what.

If you want to write the screenplay then I'd suggest writing a draft you are happy with before presenting. It will be a good indicator of how the novel will work when adapted and also demonstrate your ability as a screen writer as well as a novelist.

Hello everyone, and thanks for your thoughts. Four years on, I have converted quite a few of my novels to screenplays and have seven currently "Under Consideration." Which was and is very exciting but they've been "Under Consideration" for quite some time so who knows what's going to happen there. But I am happy I made the Long Long list given how many screenplays each Producer and his team must have waded through. It is one another step forward, another milestone reached. Currently, I just finished the first draft of my first direct to Screenplay feature. A murder mystery and I am still working on my novels, with three on the go at present, so I am keeping out of trouble in these challenging times

Hi Simon, under consideration. With who and how? Just curious as different markets have different processes.

Hello there, good question. I am a member of another site which posts requests for scripts from Producers seeking. For example ""Verified Pro With Netflix Deal Seeking Four Quadrant Fun Family Film" this one is closed for new submissions now but I have one script "under Consideration" with this producer.