Lots of great books can easily translate into a film and there are a couple of ways that your manuscript can be turned into a screenplay. Much of the time, the agent who takes your book will try to raise interest in it and, if your book is good enough and can generate some interest from a producer, your work may be bought by Hollywood and it's all great news. The other route is harder because it involves adapting your novel yourself. Here’s how to do it.

Be Mindful of Length

You know that a book has a typical range of word counts but a screenplay also has to follow certain requirements. The recommended screenplay length, at least for a newbie, is between 90 and 109 pages. Each page will represent a minute of screen-time so your movie may be up to 109 minutes long.

Keep it Minimalist

Cut, cut, and then cut some more. Your character dialog might belong in your book but it can’t be in a movie. You need to be short and to the point, describing events or dialog in as short a way as possible. Much of what you originally wrote won't make it past the cutting room floor and much of what you write may not translate well to the screen anyway. If you really can’t bear to cut any of your characters then screenwriting may not be for you.

Read Plenty of Guides on Plots and Stories

In some parts of the writing arena, formulae are expected and are indeed presented, including what the reader expects to get out of a novel. And then you have literary fiction which doesn’t run to a formula. In general, Hollywood tends to be less the latter and more the former and, often, a recognizable structure is needed, action every so many pages, an inciting event that lasts several minutes, and so on. Take some time out to find and read guides on writing plots and stories for screenplays to make sure you understand what is expected.

Use Decent Screenwriting Software

Most people can use Microsoft Word and most writers use it to craft their novels. It’s free so, for that reason, many will turn away from the thought of having to spend on screenwriting software. But, if you want your screenplay to be formatted perfectly and look good, it is well worth the cost.

Read Scripts and Watch Movies

Before you try writing your own, read plenty of scripts and watch movies. They will give you loads of ideas on how to format specific parts of your own screenplay, especially if you are struggling. Not only that, reading other scripts can give you some great information on adapting your own novel. For example, seeing how a cluttered page, one full of dialog and text, can be hard to get through while one that is formatted correctly, with small bits of dialog and not too much narrative is not. You will learn how to introduce your characters, get your point over, create some tension where it is needed. It’s the easiest tip in the world – learn by reading.