I’m excited to share that we’ve found the perfect director and cinematographer for Streaming Sarah, the first novel in my Streaming Souls mystery series. After some challenges with the script, I discovered the importance of adapting my novel personally, as no one knows the characters better than the author. In fact, I’m now writing scripts first alongside my novels, which has helped me outline and vet out the story. Successfully adapting a book to film can bring increased exposure, respect, and financial gain for the author, as well as an enjoyable experience for audiences. Consider the following steps as you write your novel to not only have a successful book, but to have producers interested in adapting to film:
1. Create a strong and compelling story: Focus on developing a well-structured, engaging, and original plot that keeps the reader immersed from beginning to end. Make sure the story has enough depth, twists, and turns to maintain a viewer’s interest throughout a film.
2. Develop interesting and relatable characters: Create multidimensional characters that have unique personalities, motives, and emotions. The audience should feel connected to the characters and care about their journey, which will make the adaptation more appealing to film producers.
3. Write visually: Ensure your writing style is descriptive and cinematic, painting pictures in the reader’s mind. This will help film producers visualize how the story can be translated to the big screen. Incorporate strong visual imagery, action sequences, and vivid descriptions of settings.
4. Focus on strong dialogue: Well-written dialogue can elevate a story and be easily adapted for the screen. Create conversations that feel natural and propel the story forward while revealing important information about the characters and their motivations.
5. Maintain a good pace: Make sure your story maintains a strong pace throughout, with a balance of action, emotion, and suspense. This translates well to film, as it keeps the viewer engaged.
6. Incorporate themes with broad appeal: Choose themes and topics that are universally relatable and appealing to a wide audience, such as love, revenge, redemption, or personal growth. These themes will attract both readers and film audiences, making your book more likely to be considered for adaptation.
7. Leave room for interpretation: Do not over-describe every single detail in your story, as this can limit a filmmaker’s creative vision. Allow for some level of interpretation, which will enable a film director to put their unique spin on the story and bring it to life on the screen.
8. Research and network within the film industry: Familiarize yourself with the process of book-to-film adaptations and network with producers, agents, and filmmakers who can help get your book noticed by the right people in the industry.
9. Build a strong platform: A well-established author platform can make your book more attractive to film producers, as it indicates a built-in audience for the adaptation. Develop a strong following on social media, engage with readers, and promote your book to create a buzz around it.
10. Be open and flexible: Be prepared to work closely with film producers, adapting the story as needed for the screen, and be open to changes that may be necessary to make it successful as a movie. Your collaboration and flexibility will make the process smoother and more likely your book will become a successful film adaptation.
I can relate to the daily prompt topic of release. It was one of my hardest lessons to learn. Not saying I’m a control freak (okay, maybe) but letting others step in and help changed my stress level immensely.
Joyce Kostakis feeling inspired and brave enough to write. 