On Writing & Storytelling: My First Attempt at Adaptation ‘from Script to Novel’ is Underway

Hi, all.

This is just a quick update to let you know that I already started the somewhat tedious task of “novelizing” the bit of Chapter 10, Scene Two in Reunion: Coda from screenplay format to the format I normally use for the novel.

In theory, this process sounds simple: just take the stuff I wrote in the spare style of your average screenplay and rewrite it to match the rest of the manuscript. Take out the stuff I don’t need, such as the CHARACTER tags above the lines of dialogue, shot descriptions, and stage directions if there are any while keeping the things that I need – specifically, the lines of dialogue I needed in the first place.

In practice, at least for me, it’s not just a simple matter of following those steps, but also making sure that the scene doesn’t devolve into a boring transcript of a conversation between the protagonist (2000 era Jim) and his love interest – in this timeline – Maddie.

From where I sit, the challenge here is adapting material I wrote in one format to another, keeping the dialogue – which is pretty good, actually – and having it match the tone and style of the novel I’m writing.

I’ve already got the first line of dialogue adapted. I did that this morning. Now, it’s on to do the rest of the scene.

Wish me luck!