Screenwriting : Novalization by Enmerkar Zedek

Lyse, I started in the book writing side of thing, and studied publishing business for my Masters, so I know that business more than I know the business of screenwriting. But, I suspect the principles remain the same, bet on a sure odd. Any script or book that convinces a publisher or producer that it can make them more money than it takes to produce will be printed/made in a heartbeat. This is why movies or TV shows with bad scripts gets made. I agree that it is an easy way for exec to reject a script, but it is also a way for them to say that the return on the big screen will not be high enough to make profit, but it might pan out profit wise in book form, where the production cost is 1/10th of a movie.

This can be a great idea but to be honest, if you self-publish and it doesn't sell at least 50k-100k copies, you'll be in no better a position then you would be with just the script.

You're not going to sell 50k-100k copies with self publishing unless you are a marketing wiz. As someone with experience in the business, I'd say a more realistic perspective would be 500-1000 copies in 1-2 years and don't expect to see your books stocked in many bookstores.

Yeah, no, I was curious about scriptwriters who couldn't get the deal and then turned it into a novel to keep the story alive before an audience. How many did that or thought of doing that? How many are just holding the script in that form and still hoping it will get optioned and produced? As far as getting a film deal after turning it into a book, I am not buying it, I think if the exec is telling you to turn it into a book first before he considers it, I'd know he is b.sing me big time.

Lyse, I wouldn't get into the book writing business with big money in mind, it is really a lottery ticket. You can hit it big like a Harry Potter or you can end up selling to just your friends. Even publishers refer to themselves as 'gamblers'. It is a tough tough business and it is facing huge slow down. However, if you do write the book, I urge you to hit the publishers and agents, and skip the self-publishing route unless you've got good marketing skills and talents and by good I mean AMAZING. As a writer, I'd say do what you love. Don't sit on the fence. Just do it! Don't worry about profits. My script the Red Raven makes for a fun TV episode and maybe it will make for a fun book. If it doesn't get optioned or published, I am happy to have written it, and brought an idea into life. Of course, it is a TV script, so the story isn't finished in the telling. I still want to see a movie made out of my writing, so I am now writing a script for a horror flick that I can try and produce myself. Again, even if it is a commercial dud, it is still better than sitting in front of the tube and just watching somethone ELSE creative work while my own creativity takes a backseat. I picked up a camera and made a short movie in 80's, I wrote my first 'gamebook' (400 pages), and programmed my own graphic RPG game and had a local store carry it for sale, all in my teens then put them all down and went 'straight' with business school and spent 20 years dreaming about writing scripts, making movies, and all that and now I kick myself in the rear for not following all my creative dreams much much sooner. Be true to your passions and money will follow...

The publishing business has now become a self marketing deal. They do consider how much a single person has self marketed a book through social media.

I've done a novella as a test for some upcoming novels based on some of my scripts. We are in a new golden age for getting stuff out there. In the sixties we had the paperback revolution where lots of writers got their foot in the door, and now we have the ebook revolution. I don't think anyone is going to get rich, but you can get your story to readers (something that's often tough to do with a screenplay). A friend of mine is novelizing all of his busted specs, and building up an audience.

My usual method to write a novel is to first write it as a screenplay. I find that easier. Yes, the publishing business is tough, but that will not deter me. Do what you love and do not expect much. :)