BOOK LAUNCH: I TURNED MY SCREENPLAY INTO A SELF-PUBLISHED NOVEL

I've had screenplays chosen as Finalists in two international screenwriting Fellowship Competitions and one chosen a Finalist in an international screenwriting contest. I've also had scripts chosen as a Semi-Finalist, Quarter-Finalist, etc. This has done absolutely nothing for my career.

I'm not good at networking. Not living in the Los Angeles area makes it even more difficult. You have to persevere if you intend to break into the film industry, and you have to be capable of thinking outside the box. This not only applies to what you write, but what media you write in.

My first novel, “The Last Angel To Fall,” began as a screenplay. While I struggled over outlining the script, I reflected on past efforts which included direct submissions, entering contests, and attempting to make my own independent film with three different screenplays.

When considering the scope of this story, I finally decided to take my brother Gary's advice. He has been pushing me to write novels for years, but a few aborted attempts had intimidated me. I thought it over and realized that there was really nothing to worry about. If the novel stunk, no one would know it. If I felt it was good, I could self-publish and try to build an audience of readers.

There is no guaranteed avenue to successfully breaking into screenwriting or the film industry in any particular position, but the most attractive thing about writing a novel is that you are in complete control of the story. Especially if you self-publish. If the novel is successful, you are in the driver's seat. There will likely be some producer or studio interested in buying the film rights. Then you can negotiate to write the first draft of the screenplay and to direct the film as well. You might not be able to obtain all of this, but you will have negotiating power because you own the rights.

The film industry is fixated on Intellectual Property because part of the vetting process has been done in advance. They will know if there is an established audience for your story and whether or not it can be translated well to film.

It's important to note that, though not an absolute, any screenplay you turn into a novel should already be a story that would play well as a film, since you originally intended for it to be one. Another potential bonus is that if your novel is made into a film, it will drive sales of your novel and attract new readers. This will become especially powerful if you are writing a novel series with continuing characters.

I encourage aspiring screenwriters to consider writing a novel. The knowledge that the finished product won't linger in limbo for eternity is empowering. At the very least, you will have a completed project that you can self-publish and sell on Amazon and other sites. And if the story is good enough and is able to build a good readership, the film industry will probably be coming to you with offers. That makes a nice change from paying to submit to their representatives or hoping that some agency will represent your script.

At any rate, it's another option for getting your work read and potentially made into a movie.

My first novel is now available on Amazon as a Kindle e-book for the special price of 99 cents for 24 hours only:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1078186650?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

The novel is also available in paperback, but without discount.