Reader Question: What about writing a screenplay and a novel?

From GITS reader Bailish:

I’m planning a novel and the corresponding screenplay. For maximum impact, how would it be better to release these — concurrently, or one before the other? I realize lead times are highly variable, but can I optimize the process?

I’m certainly no expert on book publishing, so perhaps someone in the GITS community who is can weigh in with a more informed response.

My first question to you is why this approach? Is it based on a creative instinct, perhaps that you ‘see’ the story, both as a screenplay and a novel, and therefore you feel compelled to write both of them? Is it based more upon a monetary instinct, that is you’d like to get two bites of this one story’s apple? 

Having read a bunch of interviews with screenwriters and novelists over the years, I do know this: Adapting a novel into a screenplay can be a really difficult challenge. Generally there is far too much going on in a novel, and so a screenwriter is constantly confronted by what narrative material to leave out, rather than what to leave in. And that’s just one of a myriad of issues involved with doing an adaptation.

Then there’s this: Some stories just work better as a screenplay, while others work best as a novel. Bailish, have you considered which format will work best for your story? And if it’s a clear-cut choice, either screenplay or novel, do you think you can pull off a strong version of the story in the ‘weaker’ format? Because if it doesn’t really work as a novel or screenplay, then how would that help your ultimate cause (coming out with a sub-par story version)?

All that said, if you are really committed to writing both versions of the story, in general my advice would be to write the novel first. Reasons: (1) A novel will allow you to write a more complete version of the story, giving you time and room to explore much more of the plot and — of special importance — the inner life of your characters (as compared to a screenplay). (2) You won’t be as constricted by the structural restrictions imposed on you by writing a screenplay. (3) The potential sale of a novel can be a springboard to selling the book’s movie rights.

Per the latter, there are cases where a novelist can lock themselves in as the initial screenwriter, but that could also be a sticking point when dealing with a movie studio, who would likely prefer to work with a proven screenwriter with a track record of writing screenplay adaptations. I suppose having a screenplay in hand could resolve that issue.

But again, if anybody out there has experience as a novelist-screenwriter, book publisher, book agent, or literary agent, I’d welcome your informed analysis of this question.

And while we’re here, let me pose this question: What movie is your favorite adaptation? A few of mine: To Kill a Mockingbird, Zorba the Greek, Lolita, The Princess Bride, The Godfather, Parts I & II, Jaws, Lord of the Rings, The Silence of the Lambs, No Country for Old Men, Schindler’s List.

Comment Archive