Derek Haas: “Seven Things Screenwriters Should Know About Novels”
Yesterday I featured this article from screenwriter-novelist Derek Haas: Seven Things Novelists Should Know About Screenwriting. Today Haas’ follow-up: Seven Things Screenwriters Should Know About Novels. Here’s an excerpt:
1. Publishers Want To Sell Books. It’s a common misperception that screenwriting is for commercial aspirations while novel writing is a place to pen esoteric ideas and ramblings. The truth is: publishers want commercial books. They want to reach a wide audience. The same forces that drive a spec script sale drive a spec novel sale. Will this book attract a large number of readers? You have to write a novel the same way you would write a movie: with compelling characters, surprising plot twists, strong dialogue, and a unifying theme that encompasses all. Sure, you don’t have to worry about set pieces and budgets and casting, but you’re going to have a hard time if you write for a very narrow niche.
For more of the article, go here.
And don’t forget to check out Haas’ short story site Popcorn Fiction.