Posted on May 04, 2018
What It Takes to Write a Book that Becomes a Movie
Brooke Maddaford, Reedsy editor and former editor at a Big 5 publishing house, shares her tips on what your book needs to be made into a movie, based on her experience editing A Futile and Stupid Gesture: How Doug Kenney and âNational Lampoonâ Changed Comedy Forever, which was recently adapted into a Netflix Original Movie.
The concept of art being derivative is not new. Hollywood loves making movies based on best-selling books because the audience is built in and the story already works. The film is almost guaranteed to have loyal fans who read the book and are excited to see the adaption, so producers donât have to agonize about ticket sales.
Four of the top five highest-grossing film franchises have literary origins. Forty-seven of the eighty-nine films that have won the Oscar for Best Picture were based on a book, novella, or short story. Thatâs over fifty percent!
But not every good book is adapted into a film. Why is that?
Josh Karp was wise to write a biography about National Lampoon because his story spotlights a comedic empire built by famous eccentrics; pretty stellar biographical material already. But it wasnât the just the brilliant personalities or counterculture backdrop that attracted Netflix. It was how the author swirled together his plot, characters, and setting â and his well-crafted writing â that produced a book with the qualities that Hollywood seeks.

Are you wondering what your book needs to be made into a movie? Is there a secret formula to get your story noticed by Hollywood?
I think so.
Itâs simple but true. Literary folks love to debate if the plot, characters, or setting are most important, but the reality is that the best books balance all three and are enticingly written.
Want to learn more? Here are five steps that can help you write a book that will become a movie.
Step 1: Write a Driving Plot with a Solid Narrative Arc
You might be wondering what the difference is between âplotâ and ânarrative arc.â The various events that occur throughout the story construct the plot, while the narrative arc is the order in which those events are presented. A driving plot and solid narrative arc are symbiotic elements that exist in all good booksâespecially those that have what it takes to be made into movies.
It's crucial that you craft a strong narrative arc â I cannot overemphasize the value of each plotline (including all subplots) having a clear beginning, middle, and end. Donât get too caught up in how many subplots you have â more is not necessarily better! Keep the plot moving forward at a comfortable pace so readers donât get bored or feel hurried.
Step 2: Develop Dynamic, Three-Dimensional, and Compelling Characters
People who are both three-dimensional and dynamic are the most compelling because theyâre interesting and, rather than being static characters, they demonstrate growth and change.
Also, audiences become emotionally invested in sympathetic characters because they have traits we can identify with â if readers can see themselves in characters, theyâre more believable. This is necessary for both fiction and nonfiction, though some nonfiction authors mistakenly believe their hands are tied because of the genreâs constraints. While nonfiction authors must remain truthful, even the most boring, bland, or lazy characters can appear sympathetic if an author emphasizes the characterâs relatable traits.
Donât mistake sympathetic for likable; readers donât always have to admire your characters, we just have to care about them.
Step 3: Craft a Visceral Setting
The setting of a book is as important as the plot and characters because it roots the story in both time and place. Donât treat your setting as just the storyâs background â make it an integral part of the book.
Would the Harry Potter books be the same if they occurred in California in 1850? Would The Devil in the White City have been a best seller if it was set solely in the architectâs office? Probably not. The setting of a story is as critical as the story itself.

I always advise authors to think of their booksâ settings as another protagonist. For both fiction and nonfiction, authors must detail a distinct and visceral world that radiates with the mood and atmosphere the author envisions.
Step 4: Show, Donât Tell
Put simply, this often-repeated adage describes the technique of allowing readers to independently deduce what youâre trying to say through the use of descriptive details, rather than spoon-feeding us the information. As films are an inherently visual medium, books that succeed in showing rather than telling tend to translate easier to the screen.
Hereâs an example of âtellingâ where the author flatly states whatâs happening:
John waited for June at the restaurant. When she walked in, he noticed that she was tall and looked cold.
Although readers are told substantive details about the characters and setting, a rewrite that invites us into the bookâs world and shows us the same information is much more captivating.
Like this:
John watched as June had to duck her snow-covered head to comfortably fit through the restaurantâs doorway. Her cheeks were red and chapped, and her hands were balled into frozen fists.
Authors that show, rather than tell, craft distinct narratives that allow readers to see, feel, taste, hear, and smell what the characters are experiencing. By harnessing the senses, the audience is invited to actively, rather than passively, engage with the prose. As Mark Twain said, âDonât say the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream.â
Authors frequently ask me if telling is ever allowed and the answer is yes! Writing is an art, which means rules are meant to be broken. In books that employ a strong narrative voice or that need a great deal of exposition, telling can be the most efficient choice â just go with your gut on this one. Keep in mind that film is primarily visual, so telling instead of showing could get messy in the adaptation.
(This is a great resource that talks more about âShow, Donât Tell.â)
Step 5: Donât Write a Screenplay Masquerading as a Book
My greatest recommendation is this: if you want to write a book, write a book, and if you want to see your story told through film, write a screenplay. Donât write a screenplay masquerading as a book. Â Â Although both authors and screenwriters are storytellers, a book is a fundamentally different medium than a movie.
If youâre uncertain about if you should write a screenplay or a book, ask yourself these questions:
- Can my story be told in two hours or less? (If so, a screenplay may be best.)
- Does my story involve a lot of narration or internal dialogue? (If so, write a book.)
- Do I want my writing to be followed by another robust creative process to translate it to film? (If so, go with a screenplay.)
- When I think of my story, do I see people reading it or watching it?
- What does my story want to be? How does it want to be told?
There are no right or wrong answers to these questions â itâs important to follow your intuition.
My advice? Write what you know. And enjoy the process!
If you have any thoughts or questions on writing a film-worthy book, drop a message in the comments below.
4 responses
victoria says:
03/12/2019 â 03:52
thank you so much for the help , i have many thoughts of stories i just dont know how to start and this really helped :) hoping for more
victoria says:
03/12/2019 â 03:54
thank you for the help , i really have many thoughts of stories ,that really helped.
Amandla says:
29/04/2020 â 17:40
Wow, I am an author and this was really helpful... Thanksđ
Jessicaezeh says:
02/05/2020 â 17:02
Is it possible for a book to become a novel