In the past two years, I have rejuvenated my ambition to write and breathed new life into my stories that haven't moved, by converting my screenwriting into novelized versions. I've gone the Indy publishing route, and not exactly graced the NY Times bestseller list yet, but I have put my story ideas and unique characters upon a public platform for consumption by audience... something that no mere "implied copyright" could grant my screenplays by themselves – sitting in a drawer collecting dust or going through ANOTHER random rewrite on my computer just for the sake of "keeping it fresh." And I dare say that I think my writing has even improved a few notches, by the process. As it happens, this may just ironically be a faster track to one day seeing my work on the big screen. Perhaps? I wondered how smart or foolhardy I was, then I read this piece that seems to echo what I was thinking... (I am not promoting anything, though the article happens to mention a product promotion – please forgive that. ) http://adaptingsideways.wordpress.com/2011/09/18/script-to-novel-taking-...
Screenwriting : Why bother writing a novelization of an unsold screenplay? by Rob Foster
Why bother writing a novelization of an unsold screenplay?
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Hi Rob! I'm lurking about the forums as I just recently became a member. However, I wanted to jump in here and give you a high-five. I'm coming from the opposite direction. I've published two books, the third is with my editor now. After being approached by an agent to consider this avenue (screenwriting), I've started to look into it. Not sure about the agent but I decided to adapt my novels into a screen play. Lots of reading and fact finding before I start has kept me pretty busy. Good for you and I enjoyed your blog post as someone from the exact opposite position. :-)
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Although writing novels is different than screenwriting, they're not that dissimilar. When plotting a novel, you must know your character and locations in your mind. You must "see" everything and be able to translate that. Even if you're what's called a "pantser" (someone who does not outline prior to sitting down to write) you have some clue about a few things at least. But for those of us who outline our little hearts out before opening a Word document, then we have all the basic tools to also write the screenplay. Notice I said tools, how we use those tools for each project is very different.
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Novel writing is a time commitment, to be sure. But Maggie's point is sound: you've already written the "roadmap" for your novel. What you add via the novel is depth and backstory, in ways you just may find undoable in a screenplay. When you're asked to 'adapt your novel into a screenplay,' it MAY be as simple as digging out the old script... or (you've rewritten it before) revisiting the screenplay with a new insight birthed by the novel writing. Alle and Dan... I am not as far down the path to getting produced as a lot of people here, but diving into the novelization was a liberating ride. I got to know my characters better, you might say, and solidify a story that was perhaps oversimplified and rendered in shorthand for the sake of making a pithy read. There is no standard evolving template for novels, the way that there is for screenplays – part of freeing one's self is to let go of the comfort of the cage. I say dive in without the water wings and see what happens. The worst scenario... you have a clearer mental picture of what you've written? (By the way, it's wonderful to converse with members of my tribe at last :) ) I don't have the definitive answer on anything. I simply found a grain of information that resonated with truth, for me, in this article. I wanted to pass it on – it may be the thing someone is looking for.