How to adapt a book into a screenplay?
959040
Marketing, marketing, marketing. Movie producers make stories from books as appealing to a general audience as possible. Hence, characters are changed, plots are redone, and the entire story takes on a whole new life. Books are often inner-reflective, meaning that we get inside a character's head and their inner thoughts much more. You can't do that in film unless you have the character constantly narrating which would be very annoying. Movies take a more precise story due to time and in doing so lots of things are cut out and things adapted to adhere better to actors and directors who may be attached to the project.
87537
screenplay or script is a blueprint for producing a motion picture. It can be adapted from a previous work such as a novel, play or short story, or it may be an original work in and of itself. Every year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hands out Oscars in both Original Screenplay and Adapted Screenplay categories. In the United States of America, the Writers Guild of America has final control on who may be awarded screenwriting credit for a screenplay in a union production.\n\nA script for a television program is sometimes called a teleplay.\n\nSomeone who writes screenplays is a screenwriter.\n\nThe art of writing a screenplay is known as screenwriting and is dealt with separately.
601304
There are several that accept screenplays on spec.  Check the link here.  I also write screenplays but thus far make my own movies with my partner.  Good luck!
1033710
Hi, Dan.  \n\nCongratulations on your great idea.\n\nThere are a number of questions you must first answer before the advice anyone gives you about publishing your book can actually be of value to you. They include some of the following:\n\n > What is the subject of your self-help book?\n\n > Who is the book's target market?\n\n > What are your credentials for writing such a book?\n\n > How much, if any, research have you done on this subject — particularly to see what other books have already been written on this subject and/or to this market? \n \nThe fist rule of marketing anything — including BOOKS — is to make sure you have a market for your product before you create the product...not the other way around.\n\nYou wil probably want to do some pretty thorough research to see what else is out there that's even a little like yours.  This is not to defeat or discourage you, but to let you know how to talk with the publishing industry.  For example, this process will enable you to language a comment like, "It's a little like Dr. Phil's most recent book, but with less yelling, and targeted specifically to husbands of women who've had miscarriages," so that you can give them a better idea of exactly what you have in mind.\n\n > Do you have any agent contacts in mind already?\n\n > Have you put your proposal together yet?\n\n > If it seems like it will take some time to find an agent and/or publisher, is self-publishing a consideration?\n\n > Do you have a graphic designer who is handling the cover and interior layout?\n\n > If you had to describe your budget for this project, would you say it is:\n\n * Whatever it takes to get the job done properly \n * Flexible, within reason \n * Very limited \n * I have no budget for this project \n   \nYou probably will want to head to Amazon.com or your local bookstoe and invest in a book called The Writers Market.  It's a big book (maybe 3 inches thick) that costs about $30 — or you can get the one that comes with a CD-ROM for about $50.  What it contains are the best known agents, publishers, and outlets for all genres of writing in the country...as well as a few international sources.\n\nThe good news is that the self-help market is one of the biggest there is, and non-fiction is fairly easy for new authors to break into, even with a traditional publisher (as opposed to self-publishing). \n\nThe honest truth is that this could be a full-time job for you, depending on how serious you are about it.  One cardinal mistake new authors make is not realizing that a book is a BUSINESS unto itself, and you need to think of it as one.  To do it properly, you'll need the same kinds of tools you would to get a business started: a timeline, a budget, a marketing plan, and a well-thought-through execution strategy.\n\nThis is a project that, if done properly, is going to take a big investment of time, money, and energy, particularly if you go the self-publishing route (even as an e-book, which is NOT the best recommendation for a self-help book).  If you're not under a tight external deadline and have the personal capacity for or access to some of the design components (editing, layout, cover, pagination), you may be able to somewhat contain the cost.\n\nWhatever you do — DO NOT overlook the need for a good editor.  Quality editing — or the lack thereof — has the ability to seal your book's fate, for good or ill.\n\nBegin by identifying the market your book will reach (be as specific as you can, making sure, however, that you have a large enough viable market that both needs your book and is willing to pay for the information it contains), and then start looking at agents and/or publishers who work with material for people in that group.  An agent is the middleman, who negotiates between you and the publishing company.  The publisher is the company who puts up the cash to build the books, market them, and distribute
883770
Yep - I am.  I've written a play before, and I'm writing another one now that could possibly be a screenplay. \n\n\nWhy - are you looking for a screenwriter?
357952
This'll be a great help:\n\nRead the story and take notes on all the characters, what they're like, etc. Then take a different section of notes on their opinions. If you want, take additional notes on age, related to whom, and friends with whom. Then, when you get projects like this, all you have to do is skim through a few notes and not the whole book.
126311
You gotta find yourself an agent.  One in NY and one in LA if possible.  If your work is good enough you can get an agent to take your work and just slice off a comission instead of an upfront fee.\n\nIf that fails, you're going to have to start raising money.  Talk to friends and families (have them consider it an investment not a loan, because if your book flops then you're s.o.l.).\n\nYou can also talk to local business men and such.  Try talking to a creative writing professor or philosophy professor at a local college, they may have some tips.
972328
not really. as you write the story you might come across different ideas. there might be a new character there, a twist here and you might change the entire plot!! either way it will turn out good. it's hard to write with the exact ending you thought of in the beginning.
1088011
I'm glad you asked. 1) While you read - you should be maintaining an outline of the facts on each chapter. 2) Make note of characters, characterization (little tidbits the author reveals, and the ones you find as you read) 3) Construct a story map and note how the story moves from the exposition-to the rising action-climax-falling action and then resolution. 4) Note what your thoughts are about each character, and how they relate.  After your review your outline, go back and read it. Now you should be able to draw an intro statement based on a number of things you have discovered about the storyline, characters, plot, theme, etc.  One or two items should stick out.  For example- if the protagonist (main character) is driving the story, then trace how he/she does that and how they effect the outcome.  A good summary to me is the student who evaluates many sides of the story from different perspectives. Make it brief, you don't want to reveal "all of the good stuff", but as the reader and writer - your outline should have more information so that if you need to return and do more essay writing, you have the facts with you. Good luck to you.  I love questions like these.  It challenges me as an English teacher.  You are welcome to email me directly if you have any further questions.
263948
First you have to look online for an agent, a good website to start looking for one is: http://www.publishingcentral.com/subject.html?sid=16&si=1&kwd=book+publishing+literary+agents. Many companies will refuse a manuscript or book if not represented by an agent, so finding one is benifial. \n\nNext you need to determine what the agent and the publishing houses you are going for is looking for. They have different areas of Genre, length, plot, etc. Some houses want the first 3 chapters of a story, some want the whole thing and some want the in between. They also have set requirements for submitting, like aligned left, with so much space, etc. They are very picky. \n\nThen your agent will either have an inhouse editor or find you one, and that process begins and god only knows how many drifts you will have to retype it. \n\nFinally submit to the company and hope it gets published
215508
A screenplay has far more info than the script. Its the "story" behind it all, a full detailing of what's going on. The script itself is for the actors to understand what's going on with their char's, and for the director to keep everything in perspective.
549621
read a lot of books written in the style you want to write in. Write short pieces at first and submit them to several publishing houses. They're always on the lookout for novel (pardon the pun) talent so don't take their criticism personally, it's constructive and you should use it to improve your style
440810
That is kind of a broad statement. If you are doing a book, certainly you have something specific in mind?\n\nFirst of all, are you in the United States or in a different country? Programs and services vary greatly depending on where you live.
474238
It depends on how loyal the screenwriter is to you original story. If it is famous then there is a better chance of it keeping true to the story.  If the book is not famous I would have to say that you may recognize elements, but not the story in its entirety. A lot of screenplays take elements from many stories, and rarely credit the authors.
76823
Check out Booklocker at the source.  Using their system you can self publish and keep all rights.  Read the FAQ's.  They will help you with many of the publishing tasks for a reasonable fee; or you can do most or all of it yourself.  They are selective but will review almost anything.  Good luck with your book.
971049
Do your own homework...\n\nbut direct characterization is where the author comes out right and says characteristics.  So look for descriptions and introductions of characters in the book.
1120645
With a pen after you print it.\n\nTry converting to a PDF and do it in Acrobat