June Blog
Thinking About Turning Your Book Into a Screenplay? Here's How to Get Started
As many of you know, I've been spending a lot of time lately not only writing books but also creating video content based on my stories. Between my One Minute Horror series, my new "Are You Scared Yet?" mini-series, and my upcoming 66 Nights of Summer event launching on June 21st, I've found myself thinking more and more about what it takes to bring stories from the page to the screen.
I'll be honest—I'm not a screenplay expert.
I've spent years writing novels, short stories, and horror fiction, but screenwriting is a different art form entirely. However, as I've explored creating videos and adapting scenes from my stories, I've learned a few things that might help other authors who are considering taking that first step.
First: Write the Book
This may sound obvious, but I truly believe the most important thing is to write the story first.
Many writers get excited about movie deals, streaming series, and screenplay adaptations before they've finished the manuscript. While it's fun to dream big, the foundation of everything is the story itself.
A great screenplay starts with a great story.
Focus on creating memorable characters, strong conflict, emotional moments, and a satisfying plot. Once you've built that world, you'll have something worth adapting.
Understand That Screenplays Are Different
A novel allows you to spend pages describing thoughts, emotions, settings, and backstory.
A screenplay doesn't.
Movies are visual. Instead of telling the audience what a character is thinking, you must show it through actions, dialogue, and visual storytelling.
This means some scenes from your book may need to be shortened, combined, or even removed entirely when adapting them for film.
Start Small
One thing that has helped me is creating short videos based on my stories.
My One Minute Horror stories force me to think visually. I have to ask:
What would the audience see?
What would they hear?
How quickly can I establish the story?
Which moments are the most important?
Creating short-form content has become a fun way to experiment with storytelling outside of traditional novels.
Learn the Basics of Screenplay Formatting
There are many free resources online that explain screenplay structure and formatting.
You don't need to master everything overnight.
Start by reading screenplays from movies you enjoy. Notice how scenes are structured, how dialogue is written, and how little description is often needed compared to a novel.
The more screenplays you read, the more comfortable the format becomes.
Think Visually
When writing a book, readers imagine the world for themselves.
When creating a screenplay, you're helping directors, actors, and production teams see that world.
Ask yourself:
What does the setting look like?
What emotions can be shown visually?
Which scenes would be the most cinematic?
What moments would make audiences gasp, laugh, or cry?
These are the building blocks of film storytelling.
Final Thoughts
If you've ever dreamed about seeing your book become a movie, television series, or short film, don't let the process intimidate you.
Start with the story.
Write the book.
Create memorable characters.
Then begin exploring how those moments might look on screen.
That's exactly where I am right now; learning, experimenting, creating videos, and discovering new ways to bring stories to life.
Who knows? Maybe one day one of our books will make it all the way from the page to the big screen.
Until next time, keep writing, keep creating, and keep telling your stories.
