Let's explore the art of novels and TV/film screenplays, shall we? This all started from a need to tell stories to one another thousands of years ago.
Storytelling is an integral part of what humans are and what makes us so "human". Can you believe that we as a species are so intelligent that we've figured out how to tell made-up narratives that bond us together (and historically speaking, also tear us apart)?
Early cave paintings are said to resemble hunting plans. Our advanced minds have slowly intertwined our curious imaginations overtime to create amazing inventions and stories.
There are many ways to tell a story; verbally, in a book, poem, podcast, radio, play, or digitally, etc. The two being compared in this blog are novels and screenplays. Books and movies typically have a vast background of how they are written and come to fruition.
Novels and screenplays serve a few different purposes for their intended audiences - a novel is for an individual and a screenplay is only meant to be viewed by the predetermined cast and crew members. While in film school, I found reading scripts to be just as fun as reading a book. It's a complete story, just like a novel, but the details go straight to the point so it can be visualized clearly.
I'm here to share some knowledge from my favorite professors, writer friends, and personal experiences over the years to help separate the two art forms.
What's a Novel?
The dictionary definition of a novel is "an invented prose narrative that is usually long and complex and deals especially with human experience through a usually connected sequence of events".
In other words, it is a work of fiction that tells a detailed and expansive story. The use of descriptive language, theme, plot, setting, conflict, and character development are a part of all novels but it is up to the author how they want to convey their messages, like with foreshadowing or motifs.
When a book reaches 50,000 words or more, it can be considered a novel instead of a short story or novella. Writing a novel allows ample room for constructing an in-depth exploration of characters' thoughts, feelings, and experiences, as well as describing settings. Compared to watching a movie and witnessing the event happen for you, reading a book allows each person to interpret and conceptualize their unique perspective first.
Tips for Writing a Story
Many people start with an outline from beginning to end and fill in their events from there. When writing a story, there are common elements and structures novels share with screenplays. But each novel must have every word match the first person character or the omniscient view/narrator. Screenplays only need the character's actions and dialogue to be specific.
Book writing is a diverse art form that is more art/author-friendly. Meaning, that these are just the basic tips, anyone can create a novel their way. These tips are great for any story writer!
Conceptualize a compelling idea or premise for your book. Likely a "what if" scenario.
Plot Structure starts with introducing the setting and characters, with a central conflict that happens early on to grab the reader's attention.
Develop the Rising Action. This is where the conflict and tensions escalate which lead up to the climax.
Resolve the conflict during or soon after the climax so that the falling action ties up loose ends and provides closure for the audience
More artistic aspects of writing a novel come out in these ways:
World-Building. Base fiction from a historical period or develop a whole new world. Make sure the setting is immersive and authentic so the audience believes whatever you create!
Pacing controls the story by balancing moments of action, tension, and introspection. Varying the rhythm can keep readers more engaged.
Dialogue should sound like the character, not just be a conversation that needs to be said.
Your story is about your characters reacting to the world you throw at them.
Dialogue can be used to advance the plot, but use the exposition right. Exposition is the plot, story, and background information the audience may or may not know yet. Be sure to SHOW them this exposition throughout and do not TELL them directly. When it comes to the prose, craft around the mood, emotions, and sensory experiences for the characters and themes (screenplays don't need to follow prose due to the action/descriptions needing to be quick and straightforward.)
Adding Themes and Symbolism creates depth and resonance to the story.
Revision and Editing are important and can be repeated as many times as necessary.
Improve the edit for clarity and coherence for the plot, themes, and characters to optimize the quality overall.
Next is sending out queries to publishers and crossing your fingers. For screenwriting, it's referred to as being optioned, which is when a producer rents the rights and if they don't produce the movie within a set time frame, they have to rent it again or give the rights back. Both of these mediums' publishing journeys can be painstaking. If you want to market the book yourself, you can self-publish!
What's a Screenplay?
I agree with this definition of a screenplay the most, however, correctly formatted screenplays are not supposed to include too many cues about acting, directing action, or camera angles. The director's, cinematographer's, and actors' job is to interpret their roles in the script. Screenplays are just the blueprints and beginning for this art medium.
Here are the main rules when writing a professional screenplay:
The font must be Courier or Courier New, Size 12-point.
Margins must be one inch on all sides
All screenplays are monospaced to keep it consistent with the estimated time. Final Draft, Celtx. and Open Screenplay are all great programs for writing a script in its correct format.
Dialogue is centered on the page with the character's names in CAPS` and spoken lines
Parentheticals rest in between the name and spoken lines when necessary action description for the line delivery is needed. They aren't needed that often.
The Action and Description is the section under the scene heading that provides in quick detail, the action of characters and other elements as they happen in the scene including important audio or visuals.
Write in the present tense
Remembering all of these tips is hard, but don't be discouraged to slip up starting. I've written more bad scripts than good ones, and I've seen a few mistakes in some blockbuster scripts too. Here are a few pages pulled from my screenplay, The Marigold List for an example of the formatting:
If you are submitting to festivals, competitions, or want to have your screenplay optioned, then stick by the strict formatting rules! Be sure to study and learn more of the pieces needed to craft a script! Save the Cat by Blake Snyder is a book my writing professor loves to reference, and I enjoyed reading it too!
When I know I'm sending a script in for a competition, I make sure these suggestions are all covered. But, if I am writing a script for others to enjoy instead of being judged, I am more lenient on these rules so friends can understand the entire vision better.
This same professor worked in Hollywood and wrote treatments for the many scripts the production company had to vet. The job was to either pass on the script or greenlight it to the next round. Many come in the funnel and little comes out, which is why they throw away scripts that aren't formatted correctly. I've been warned that it gives off the impression that the person doesn't know how to write a script or simply doesn't care.
Everyone was pretty confused when I self-published a screenplay because it is not a book. But I get more interaction and feedback by having my screenplay available for everyone and not just a few eyes. I'm realistic with my odds of not having stories produced with a big budget, but your mind has an unlimited budget for imagination! Therefore, I do what I want, like Ron Swanson in that one episode of Parks and Rec, and self-published my script, The Marigold List.
What's the difference between a Novel and a Screenplay?
A novel can be more flexible than a screenplay. Even though it only takes one writer to complete either story, a screenplay is going to be moved through a lengthy process because of the production that goes into it. The real story potential is only beginning for the screenplay.
The novel author has to make dialogue and scene settings interesting to the reader, while screenplay writers cut to the chase so set designers know exactly what to include and what aura needs to be created. This is also because scripts need to be as short as possible so that reading and production are simplified. Again, scripts are a blueprint for other talents to recreate into one massive project.
As a writer, I decide in the beginning if I'm making my idea into a novel, screenplay, or just never touching it again. But, I'd never want to speak for everybody - especially on a creative topic like writing fiction. Many of my works have some kind of action or psycho-drama mixed in, but the deciding factor of the story medium comes down to how I want my audience to experience my character. I've always preferred visual storytelling like video games and movies, but reading horror growing up made me realize books have a more interpersonal amusement to them.
The Masks and Bandits Saga is a novel series that makes the reader experience different perspectives in each book. I plan to turn my novels into screenplays and have them produced within the next decade, but I want my audience to experience these characters in the big world I created for them. It will be an exciting visual and audio experience for sure - and I would not dare let my book be subpar to its movie.
Both novels and screenplays require well-thought-out plots, characters, themes, and arcs to be considered great - not just a problem that needs to be resolved. Screenplays have been reserved for TV and Film and have built strict rules around it due to Hollywood's love for tradition.
Are you thinking about writing?
If you're thinking about writing, just do it! Nothing needs to stop you, not even being bad at it. I've had many blanks drawn from my mind, it takes days to think of something interesting, so that's why writing is a practice that's good to come back to often. And for those with a thought that's not complete, sometimes writing out a scene that's been stuck in your head leads you to something better!
My novel series has been through one draft so far and I thought it was so bad, that I started from scratch (not the entire plot idea, just rewriting every chapter). But I needed that bad draft to get me to the next - and that's one step closer to being published and perfect for the public!
Story making and their art mediums can be complicated, but it should never stop you from silencing that little voice in your head! Write it out! Even if it goes nowhere, you'll be happy it is written!
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