The big dream for most authors is to see their book adapted for film or television. Dozens upon dozens of adaptations are released every year and with events like the Hollywood writer’s strike, not to mention the ever-expanding streaming market, original stories with broad appeal are more in demand than ever. From Bridgerton to It Ends With Us, Queenie to The Three Body Problem, some of our favorite reads have become some of our favorite TV shows and films.  As the demand for more book-to-screen adaptations grows, the question arises: should authors take the reins and adapt their own novels into screenplays? We’ll be exploring the advantages and disadvantages of writing your own screenplay, offer insights from the industry, and provide some practical tips for anyone considering this path. 

Does writing my own screenplay help land a TV/movie deal?

The first question to ask yourself is, does this actually help me get a movie deal? The answer: maybe? While this isn’t a great answer, it simply means that no two situations are alike. And though adapting your novel can be a great creative exercise, it doesn’t necessarily move you down the process much further if you haven’t already gotten the deal. If a film agent gets your story optioned, there’s still a long road a head and whether or not you’re going to be sitting in the writer’s chair for a screenplay is TBD.

So keep in mind that while anything is possible in entertainment, it isn’t the traditional order for an author to write a book, write a screenplay and get a deal. If you already have a deal, and a decision to make about adapting the screenplay yourself, this could be a helpful guide. And if you’re debating on whether or not it’s worth your time as a creative endeavor, hopefully we can answer that for you too.

The Pros of Adapting Your Own Novel

Creative Control

One of the largest and most compelling reasons for authors to adapt their own novels into screenplays is the opportunity to have more creative control. By being directly involved in the screenplay adaptation, authors can ensure that the plot and characters from their original novel are portrayed accurately. This control often leads to a more faithful representation of the author’s original story, themes and nuances. One of the main pros of adapting your own novel into a screenplay is that you will be able to make subtle adjustments to the script that align closely with the book’s tone and message, creating a more authentic adaptation. 

Deep Understanding of the Source Material 

Out of anyone in the world, authors possess the most knowledge of their own stories. As an author, you are intimately familiar with the characters, themes, and intricate plot details that others may overlook. These aspects of a story can be difficult for an outside screenwriter to grasp fully. This deep knowledge enables authors to be able to showcase the most important subplots, themes, and character arcs that might otherwise be overlooked by an outside screenwriter. 

Personal Satisfaction

Any author with a faithfully adapted film will tell you that seeing their work come to life on screen was a deeply satisfying experience. It is a chance to see your characters embodied (by real people or stunning animations), your settings visualized fully, and your stories brought to new and excited audiences. Seeing your creation brought to life in a different format can be extremely fulfilling, providing a different sense of achievement that is more than a printed page. 

The Cons of Authors Adapting Their Own Novels

Lack of Screenwriting Experience

Despite how knowledgeable authors are in novel writing, many authors do not possess the necessary skills for screenwriting. The two writing mediums are significantly different. Screenwriting is a lot more focused on the visual aspects of the storytelling, concise dialogue, and film-style pacing. Authors are typically used to diving into characters’ internal thoughts and detailed narrative descriptions, which are styles of writing that do not translate to a screenplay. This lack of experience can lead to many challenges in adapting a story successfully for the screen.

Time and Effort

Creating a book-to-screen adaptation is a time-consuming project. For authors who are trying to work on new books or other projects, dedicating time to writing a screenplay can make the workload overwhelming. The process of writing a screenplay is very detailed, involving not only writing the script but also revising it, often multiple times, to meet industry standards. This additional project and workload can detract from an author’s other projects and books, potentially slowing down your literary output. 

Potential Bias

Another potential con of adapting your own novel into a screenplay is author bias. Authors are sometimes too close to their works, making it difficult for them to cut out and change scenes for the screen. This bias may lead to over-attachments of certain characters, scenes, and subplots that are not necessary for the screenplay. The inability to detach yourself from your work like this could hinder the adaptation process.

The Industry’s Perspective on Author-Adapted Works

Mixed Receptions

The reception of author-adapted works varies vastly. While some adaptations, such as Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl are widely successful and critically-acclaimed, many others have failed among both box office results and audience scores. Steven King’s adaptations, for example, have been both widely successful and considered huge flops. This mixed reception showcases the challenges authors face when transitioning from writing a book to writing a script.

Collaboration with Screenwriters

The film industry, at large, prefers to have professional screenwriters adapt novels, sometimes in collaboration with the original authors. This approach is most often used because it combines the author’s knowledge of the story with the screenwriter’s expertise in visual storytelling. If this type of collaboration is successful, it can lead to a screenplay that respects the source material of the book while also catering to the demands of the screen. Niel Gaiman is the master of this, collaborating with screenwriters on his book-to-screen adaptations. This often results in his adaptations being faithful and well-received films and series.  

Key Points for Authors Considering Screenplay Adaptation

Education and Training

Authors who are seriously interested in adapting their novels need to gain a solid understanding of screenwriting. This can be achieved through screenwriting classes, workshops, and books that cover the basics. Learning how to craft dialogue for screen, pacing, and visual storytelling can make a large difference in the quality of the adaptation. 

Some great courses and resources for screenwriting are:

Seeking Feedback

Receiving feedback from experienced screenwriters and professionals within the film industry is invaluable. Authors can benefit from workshopping their screenplays in screenplay writing groups or one-on-one with mentors. This will allow you to receive constructive criticism and refine your script, ensuring that it meets industry standards.

Here are some amazing screenwriting writing groups and workshops:

Understanding the Medium

To build a successful screenplay, authors must understand the difference between books and screenplays. While novels allow writers to include interiority and detailed descriptions, screenplays require concise and quick dialogue with a focus on the visual aspects and action-driven elements of the story. 

Collaborative Approach 

As mentioned previously, collaborating with an experienced screenwriter can be extremely beneficial. This partnership allows for a balance of expertise that can lead to very successful adaptations. An example of this is The Martian film, where Andy Weir worked closely with screenwriter Dew Goddard to create a successful and faithful adaptation. 

The decision for authors to adapt their own novels into screenplays comes with both amazing advantages and potential drawbacks. The opportunity for creative control, a deep and thorough understanding of the source material, and personal satisfaction in seeing a screenplay that you wrote must be weighed against the challenges of screenwriting, the time commitment, and the potential biases. If you are an author that is considering writing your own screenplay it is important that you invest in screenwriting education, seek feedback, and potentially collaborate with experienced screenwriters. Ultimately, the choice between adapting your own novel and hiring a professional should be made with careful consideration of your strengths, resources, and time.