I was reminded of Schoolhouse Rock when I ran across this publishing advice related to ‘how books become movies.’ Any writer worth their salt wants a book to become a movie – unless you’re Clive Cussler. Sadly, ‘book-to-film scams are extremely common these days … the best way to avoid being scammed is to understand the process. The more you know about how things should work, the easier it will be to recognize questionable or dishonest practices when you encounter them.’
I really appreciate this advice. Turning a written story into a filmable screenplay is a journey unto itself. Anyone giving a roadmap deserves respectful attention. Let us now distill Jeanne Veillette Bowerman’s advice into some simple takeaways that everyone can learn from. Ready? Here we go!
The Process – Simplified
- Assume any offer of representation is fake until proven otherwise
- Understand that books are sold by agents – not individual people – rights sold directly to a producer or studio, as an ‘option,’ or as a ‘selling agreement.’
- You’re only as good as your agent – they handle everything including development fees, adaptation, relationships, industry contacts, etc.
- You can succeed as a self-published author under the right circumstances. Know who doesn’t have the right circumstances? You and me!
- Writing contests might work, or they might be a scam – do the research – your mileage may vary.
Bowerman goes into this in greater detail and I definitely encourage you to read her advice carefully. Reading publishing advice like this can be frustrating – ‘How will my books become movies?’ Yes, it is a BIG job to get your work noticed, approved, supported, and published. Don’t give up! I’m adding this article to my ‘Free Author Tools’ page.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re in good company. We’re all in this together. <3
