My current project started out as a radio play. After producing one as a 1-hour pilot, I wrote 2 more to make a 'triology'. I suppose, that could be half a series, if this was a tv show, but I suddenly changed tracks, turned the 3rd story into a screenplay and was quite thrilled at how quickly I was able to do that (2 weeks). I was expanding audio to screen. So I called it 'draft 1', and went back to the 3 stories. I've never written a novel, but decided to start seeing into the process of turning the first 3 stories into a novel. I'm aiming for 65k words, but seem to have completed 53k in 5 weeks. I just thought I'd share that it is far easier to turn a script into a novel than to try and attempt to do it the other way around! Usually a novel has to be cut down to its bare bones to become a screenplay but this is now my way new way of working. Anybody else here have a similar project where you're changing formats? I'd love to connect.
On Writing : Changing Writing Formats by Amina Jindani
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Hello:
Baby-stepping to a more detailed creativity. I've done screenplays and begun turning them into little, short stories and the overall process was exciting. Intriguing view to deepen the perspective of the sight that the readers have to see through the written aura.
Keep up the wondrous steps.
God Bless,
John German
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This is encouraging to hear since I'm thinking about turning a short script into a short story, Amina Jindani.
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My sci-fi novel, Xtreme Saga, started as an animated series. I wrote 3 episodes, 1 of which was produced, and an outline for a 12 episode first season. Then I ended up using the outline to write a feature. Due to budget constraints, we decided to turn the outline into a novel. The novel is now being published chapter by chapter online. I prefer the novel format, because it let me expand on the story a lot. The novel ultimately came out to be much longer than originally intended at more than 130K words. But with the digital publishing format it's less of an issue. The novel is also currently being adapted to a webcomic that runs alongside the novel. Transmedia is the big thing now, so format changing and adapting is much more common.
You can check out Xtreme Saga here if interested.
saga.xpg.com
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This sounds awesome. I will check it out. Thank you and keep up the good work!
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Hi Amina Jindani - I've made the leap from novel writing to screenplays but never the other way around. Would love to hear how your process goes as you develop. I can see where the script could serve as an outline for the novel.
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Hi Leonardo. In radio play format, there's no visuals. Visuals are alluded to through soundscape and POV dialogue and VO. So the bulk of the transition is to break up the dialogue and describe the visuals. The dialogue has to be broken up to add rhythm, texture and detail. I'm fortunate that the characters speak with action so the type of action they work with is a fun expansion process. I can also give the prose to any actors as "writer's notes" so sometimes, I'm thinking of the actors and the kind of questions that they would have and focus on answering all those questions. Fortunately, I've worked as an actor quite a lot and know exactly what an actor would ask. If the actors are clear, I'm assuming the reader is clear.
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Amina Jindani That sounds incredibly interesting. I may have to just read a script or two in radio play format. The most I’ve ever done is a “reader’s theater” version of one of my works where the kids provided all the sound FX which was a blast. Thanks so much for elaborating.
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Thanks for sharing, Amina! Curious which format has captured the truest essence of your original intent.
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i.e. A CREATIVES LIFE!