Screenwriting : Transitioning to novelist by Ben Johnson Jr.

I don't write non-script format often - but I would say if you're going to do it, embrace the format! The beauty of novel writing is that you can play with the format/style/world creation so much more than you can in a screenplay. Too many writers don't take advantage of this and I think it's the best way you can celebrate the style of prose writing

@Ben You'll find it freeing & rewarding regards to being able to go directly into a person's thoughts and literally jump inside the heads of all the characters and switch them at any time, however this needs to be honed skillfully like any new tool or can become overkill. After using screenplay format long term when you first see your pages in novel form it almost looks like dialogue disappeared cos usually jumps out centre page but in a while that style feels normal. Be careful to balance dialogue with exposition and story pace etc. Listen to what you have written in audio on mobile, does it sound right? Then tweak it. Read author's works, they vary strongly. Historical novels can have long sentences up to 30 words yet others like thriller writer James Patterson less, he even uses 3 or 4 words. For beginners there are free helpful websites such as Lucy V Hay's Bang2write. (Lucy is a regular at London Screenwriter's Festival.) Just get started and let it flow!

I did it once so far, liked my fourth screenplay well enough to expand and adapt it to a short novel, it makes a great outline but of course you can start fresh either way.

My first novel is around 60,000 words (screenplay is around 17,000).

It's a formulaic dark thriller that is cinematic, so definitely focused on a particular genre, I wrote it not to market it but for the creative learning, and it has paid off in so many ways as a creative accomplishment.

It's a project that you nurture like growing a garden into a farm, and in the process it also nurtures you in growth and development, I love psychology and found the writing and expansion to be a fascinating and rewarding process, it really advances our capacity for attentive focus and imaginative concept work of all kinds. It's a great source of momentum for the subsequent projects and a great feeling knowing you've accomplished it and could do it again.

Twice. Second attempt proved better. I found it very hard to get back into freely writing without concern for camera. Interesting enough, some comments were that my books were very visual. I think that was because I was always conscious of the camera/POV with scripts. At first, I thought scripts were harder...but now I think it's the opposite. Scripts for my money is the most direct way to communicate story - more efficient. Good luck on your novel.

I started at scripts, then went to novels, then back to scripts. You have to get into an entire different mind frame. It may take a few tries, not everything will work, but you can do it. Best way to find out is to just sit down and start writing.

I alternate between the two, Ben Johnson Jr., depending where the story lends itself best. The biggest thing is to broaden your mindset and forget the strict limits imposed by the screenplay format and limited time frame an audience is given to enjoy your story. Think about the common movie goer lament, "The book was better than the movie." That's because novels can explore themes and arcs with more depth. Often C and D stories are cut when the novel it translated to the big screen. Story telling rules still apply, but you do have greater freedom with a novel in ways a screenplay doesn't. Have fun with it and enjoy!

Tried once and quickly realised I'm absolutely terrible at it, huge respect for novelists

My biggest issue is that I default to present tense. Can Novel's be written in present tense or do they have to be in past tense?

Ben Johnson Jr. Yes, I work between the two. Was my novel successful? Well, it may have been if Amazon Kindle hadn’t deleted it, but that’s another story.

Novels can be in both tenses, Ben Johnson Jr. They can be in present ánd past tense. It depends on how the novelist wants to tell the story. Present tense is like: taking the reader with you as the story evolves. Past tense is more... you are telling the story as a novelist and the reader sits back.

I always tell my students they should read novels as if they are the novelists themselves. In other words: think like a producer, not a consumer.

I've always wanted to write a Novella and a Memoir. But I hope you write one. And wish you success.

I recommend checking out this great course on adapting IP (like your novel) for film at TV: https://www.stage32.com/webinars/The-Adaptation-Journey-Adapting-an-exis...

I transitioned during the pandemic from award winning memoir-in-progress to screenplay, which served as an entry ticket into a UCLAx pro-series course. (I also attended McKee’s Story weekend 2021.) I found the transition super easy, but the present tense had my brain on overdrive. The cool thing about prose writing is that you can use any tense depending on your story and POV. Anything’s possible. Most is written past tense though. Find some top notch writers conferences and a course. Cheryl Strayed (WILD, TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS) used to pre-pandemic take over the Esalen campus for a week-long generative writing retreat with Pam Houston, Steve Almond, and others. It was fantastic! A storyteller’s a storyteller no matter the format. All the best!

I started out as a novelist. The two different structures highly compliment each other and improve the work.

Hey Nick Waters, I appreciate the nudge but just to be clear, I'm wanting to do the opposite to the course. I've already done 2 paid novel to screen adaptations, so I'm familiar with that particular process. But now I want to adapt my screenplay as a novel, which I've never done before, and was curious about who else had taken that route and what the journey was like. But thank you for trying to be helpful, I appreciate it.

Hey Ben,

I began writing novels then switched to screenplays, then back to novels again. It is always good to have multiple forms of a project. Screenplays are required to be lean. Novels have all the details that you couldn't put into the script. Many of my books and scripts have won awards. All my projects are written as a slice of life of my characters with a focus on how their family operates, whether killing machines, or regular people.

I went from novel writing to screenplays partly because I was told my novel writing was cinematic and visual. I think there's a learning curve going either way so it's important to be patient with yourself as you navigate. And yes, novels can be in either present or past tense. Present tense adds a sense of urgency though. I'd research what genres are typically written in what tense and go from there.

One of the main differences is that novels get into the heads of the characters - or at least the main character. I think that would be hard to transition to from writing for screen.

Hey Ben! I edit novels and write screenplays. The biggest thing to realize is you'll need to do more editing passes initially to add in novel elements. Screenwriting is very action driven, and novels are viscerally and emotionally driven. So make sure you're paying attention to that in the editing process (don't worry about it as much on the initial draft so you don't get in your head). And hire a great editor. You'll learn more in the editing process than you will in the writing process.

Thanks for starting this thread, Ben Johnson Jr.! I've occasionally thought about writing a novel (so I can then sell the IP for a movie/show). This has given me a lot to think about.

I was contracted to ghost write a novel from phone conversations with a brilliant and perceptive disabled Veteran and caregiver for aged relatives, then write the screenplay from it. I just finished them both. The novel was 100000 words and the screenplay was 30000. Novels have the advantage of easily understood flashbacks and flash forwards, and showing what people think and feel. Screenplays must create visual magic so that thoughts and feelings are understood by microexpressions and movement. By the way, this was my first novel. It's easier than screenwriting!

Ben, your about to feel what it is to really fly. Only when you edit, be careful with those adverbs, as soon as you get rid of one, another one pops up. But don't be careful on your first draft, let it flow.

I did it the other way around. I just finished my pilot.

Yes, Ben, you can write a novel in present tense. On my second novel my editor said he thought the story would benefit from being written in present tense so I rewrote it as such (not an easy task). And with that particular story it worked well. It gave it an immediate sense of action.

Well, Ben, have you thought any more about writing a novel? I'll be wrapping up editing novel #17 in another week or two. I have 5 series going. Two different cozy mystery series, one dystopian set in 2086, 1 sci-fi/fantasy (the first novel I ever wrote began in 1979), and 1 paranormal/erotic romance with shapeshifters. Yeah, I'm all over the place.