Adapting own screenplay into a novel at the same time

lefty23 · 01-18-2013, 08:44 PM

Has anyone here adapted their screenplay into a novel while still writing the screenplay?

For one of my WIPs i started out with an outline for my screenplay and realized that I thought it would make a great novel. I've still got a ways to go, but I have been working on both at the same time and it seems as though both my screenplay and the novel have benefited from this. Just wondering if anyone has done this and whether it worked out well?

WriteKnight · 01-18-2013, 09:31 PM

Not at the same time, no. I turned my first novel into a screenplay - that got optioned, so that 'turned out well'. Recently I novelized one of my screenplays - and two publishers want to publish it - so that has turned out well... as well.

If it works for you - don't question it. I think there are some definite benefits to 'revisiting' your own work - either distilling a novel down to a script OR expanding a script into a novel.

I don't think I could do it at the same time - I hate to have more than one writing project going at once - but that's just me.

Best of luck!

lefty23 · 01-18-2013, 10:43 PM

Yeah, i never even thought about doing it at the same time before, but just got the feeling to do it that way this time. I plan on submitting the screenplay into the Nicholl contest this year, so i'll be taking a break from the novel for a while as I finish up the screenplay and then go back to polish it up, etc. and then i'll revisit the novel once I have the screenplay complete.

Cyia · 01-18-2013, 11:10 PM

Not exactly, but I write a screenplay version of a scene and then novelize it. It works great for me.

Towielass · 01-20-2013, 11:45 AM

Hi, I'm new to visiting the water cooler, but this thread caught my eye immediately. I am converting an unpublished novel into a screen script. I wrote the novel first but with the intention of adapting it so it is an easy transgression from one to the other. I am not convinced it is a good idea to do both in tandem but when writing one you can easily visualize the other. I suppose it all depends on personal choice and ability. But good luck with your project, cheers

WriteKnight · 01-20-2013, 07:24 PM

Interesting choice of word there Towielass "Transgression" - I suspect it was a bit of a Freudian slip. I do think it's a great exercise in visualization. Taking your own novel - and pairing it down to what is the bare essential of the story - helps to sharpen the spine of the story I think. In going the other way - knowing you have this sharp focused storyline that you are free to expand on - allows you to explore elements of backstory, psyche and subplot that there is simply no time for in the screenplay.

MonumentalWords · 01-24-2013, 02:25 PM

Really interesting approach and must have its own set of challenges.

I tend to convert an existing piece of fiction, whether short story or novel and adapt them into screenplays - I hadn't considered the other way round.

Have any of you heard of the snowflake method for writing novels? Essentially, you write one sentence defining what the story is actually about, then you write a paragraph, then a synopsis. This is very similar to writing a logline and then a synopsis for a movie. I think if you take this approach to planning your 'idea', you can then write the novel or the screenplay and the basic theme and scenes are consistent.

Wilde_at_heart · 01-24-2013, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lefty23

Has anyone here adapted their screenplay into a novel while still writing the screenplay?

For one of my WIPs i started out with an outline for my screenplay and realized that I thought it would make a great novel. I've still got a ways to go, but I have been working on both at the same time and it seems as though both my screenplay and the novel have benefited from this. Just wondering if anyone has done this and whether it worked out well?

I did something similar - had a screenplay outline and decided to use the story for my NaNo...

Just polishing it now...

Still think it would make a good screenplay as well but I've got so many different projects near-completion that I need to concentrate more on shopping them around.

Wilde_at_heart · 01-24-2013, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonumentalWords

Really interesting approach and must have its own set of challenges.

I tend to convert an existing piece of fiction, whether short story or novel and adapt them into screenplays - I hadn't considered the other way round.

Have any of you heard of the snowflake method for writing novels? Essentially, you write one sentence defining what the story is actually about, then you write a paragraph, then a synopsis. This is very similar to writing a logline and then a synopsis for a movie. I think if you take this approach to planning your 'idea', you can then write the novel or the screenplay and the basic theme and scenes are consistent.

I'd never heard of it, but used that approach for my last couple of projects. I wrote one screenplay a while back that sort of fell apart when I was struggling to write the logline as it exposed some potential flaws as far as character motives go. I'm actually thinking now that it might be better as a novel...

I tend to avoid 'methods' since what works for one person often doesn't for another. If that's what it is, I'm not even crazy about the use of 'snowflake' as a descriptor; tossing a rock into pool and then having the story 'ripple out' from the original splash might be more apt.

Henri Bauholz · 01-25-2013, 07:53 AM

The blog, called Adapting Sideways, once ran a series of posts about the very subject. Unfortunately, they are no longer writing about the subject, but you can still check out their published info. I think a screenplay acts as a good first draft for a novel, but unfortunately both these creative venues have failed to spark any interest among agents or publishers.

My Blog

Arislan · 02-10-2013, 12:11 PM

My current novel started out as a 120 page screenplay. But since I had no idea how to market one and wouldn't want to hear "what else you got?" from someone (I should be so lucky to get that far!) when I'm so invested in having this story told, I adapted it into my current novel and am at the stage of editing my third draft. I learned a lot in the process and from now on I'll always start with a screenplay. I think cinematically. It helps.

01-18-2013, 08:44 PM	#1
lefty23 figuring it all out Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 66	Adapting own screenplay into a novel at the same time Has anyone here adapted their screenplay into a novel while still writing the screenplay? For one of my WIPs i started out with an outline for my screenplay and realized that I thought it would make a great novel. I've still got a ways to go, but I have been working on both at the same time and it seems as though both my screenplay and the novel have benefited from this. Just wondering if anyone has done this and whether it worked out well?

01-18-2013, 11:10 PM	#4
Cyia Rewriting My Destiny Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Brillig in the slithy toves... Posts: 12,637	Not exactly, but I write a screenplay version of a scene and then novelize it. It works great for me. __________________ 04/23/13 ----------10/08/13 ON SALE NOW!** (^Preorder)**

01-20-2013, 11:45 AM	#5
Towielass New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland/ Bulgaria Posts: 1	Adapting own screenplay into a novel at the same time Hi, I'm new to visiting the water cooler, but this thread caught my eye immediately. I am converting an unpublished novel into a screen script. I wrote the novel first but with the intention of adapting it so it is an easy transgression from one to the other. I am not convinced it is a good idea to do both in tandem but when writing one you can easily visualize the other. I suppose it all depends on personal choice and ability. But good luck with your project, cheers

01-24-2013, 02:25 PM	#7
MonumentalWords MonumentalWords.com Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 14	Really interesting approach and must have its own set of challenges. I tend to convert an existing piece of fiction, whether short story or novel and adapt them into screenplays - I hadn't considered the other way round. Have any of you heard of the snowflake method for writing novels? Essentially, you write one sentence defining what the story is actually about, then you write a paragraph, then a synopsis. This is very similar to writing a logline and then a synopsis for a movie. I think if you take this approach to planning your 'idea', you can then write the novel or the screenplay and the basic theme and scenes are consistent. __________________ jT www.monumentalwords.com facebook.com/monumentalwords @monumentalwords

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01-18-2013, 09:31 PM	#2
WriteKnight Arranger Of Disorder Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: 30,000 light years from Galactic Central Point. Posts: 1,703	Not at the same time, no. I turned my first novel into a screenplay - that got optioned, so that 'turned out well'. Recently I novelized one of my screenplays - and two publishers want to publish it - so that has turned out well... as well. If it works for you - don't question it. I think there are some definite benefits to 'revisiting' your own work - either distilling a novel down to a script OR expanding a script into a novel. I don't think I could do it at the same time - I hate to have more than one writing project going at once - but that's just me. Best of luck!

01-18-2013, 10:43 PM	#3
lefty23 figuring it all out Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 66	Yeah, i never even thought about doing it at the same time before, but just got the feeling to do it that way this time. I plan on submitting the screenplay into the Nicholl contest this year, so i'll be taking a break from the novel for a while as I finish up the screenplay and then go back to polish it up, etc. and then i'll revisit the novel once I have the screenplay complete.

01-20-2013, 07:24 PM	#6
WriteKnight Arranger Of Disorder Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: 30,000 light years from Galactic Central Point. Posts: 1,703	Interesting choice of word there Towielass "Transgression" - I suspect it was a bit of a Freudian slip. I do think it's a great exercise in visualization. Taking your own novel - and pairing it down to what is the bare essential of the story - helps to sharpen the spine of the story I think. In going the other way - knowing you have this sharp focused storyline that you are free to expand on - allows you to explore elements of backstory, psyche and subplot that there is simply no time for in the screenplay.

01-25-2013, 07:53 AM	#10
Henri Bauholz practical experience, FTW Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: somewhere near Mt. Desolation Posts: 279	The blog, called Adapting Sideways, once ran a series of posts about the very subject. Unfortunately, they are no longer writing about the subject, but you can still check out their published info. I think a screenplay acts as a good first draft for a novel, but unfortunately both these creative venues have failed to spark any interest among agents or publishers. My Blog

02-10-2013, 12:11 PM	#11
Arislan figuring it all out Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 99	My current novel started out as a 120 page screenplay. But since I had no idea how to market one and wouldn't want to hear "what else you got?" from someone (I should be so lucky to get that far!) when I'm so invested in having this story told, I adapted it into my current novel and am at the stage of editing my third draft. I learned a lot in the process and from now on I'll always start with a screenplay. I think cinematically. It helps.