Scriptwriting Services

Scriptwriting Services: Adapting your books to Screenplays

scriptwriting

John McLaughlin with Beyond The Trailer host Grace Randolph.

I’m a professional screenwriter and member of the Sundance Institute, trained by none other than screenwriter John McLaughlin of Black Swan and Hitchcock fame. He’s also known for The Great Gatsby, Parker, Ridley Scott’s COMA, The Vatican, and many more of the movies we love to watch.

How do I know John McLaughlin? He was my scriptwriting instructor in the digital media master’s program at Sam Houston State University. Let me tell you, there is no better training than working with a renowned Hollywood name. John’s talent is evident in his body of work.

Scriptwriting Services and Screenplays

Quite often, people use the term “scripts” and “screenplays” interchangeably. But there are some subtle differences. “Script” is a generic term and encompasses screenplays, shooting scripts, continuity scripts, off-book scripts, stunt scripts, on-the-bubble scripts, canon scripts, and more.

I’ve also written scripts for videos (Vimeo, YouTube), employee manuals, automated attendant phone systems, and call centers.

But what most authors want are screenplays based on their books, which I detail below.

What Exactly is a Screenplay?

A screenplay is a type of script written for television or the big screen, such as a documentary, major motion picture, or a pilot for a series. My scriptwriting services adapt your book for filming.

Believe me, there is an art and science to writing screenplays. It’s very different than novel writing, for there is a particular type of formatting required by studios, producers, and directors. In fact, some will tell you it’s much more difficult than writing a novel due to these requirements.

The whole point is to have a screenplay with bells and whistles that can be shopped to studios. Often, the original script has scenes that never make it into a final movie. Screenplays are often tweaked. Studios may take artistic license when adapting a book to a film (we’ve all seen movies that vary from the book).

But none of that can happen without a professional screenplay that showcases the story within your novel, memoir, or biography.

Adapting Your Book Through Scriptwriting Services

I love adapting books I’ve edited or ghostwritten for authors — sometimes condensing a book series into a major motion picture script. I generally sign non-disclosure agreements before providing a quote for my services.

I’m in the process of adapting my own books as well.

Also, note that I turn screenplays into books! More on that in a future blog post!

Contact Me for Scriptwriting Services

If you are interested in having your book turned into a screenplay, contact me at melaniesaxton@icloud.com. We’ll discuss your project in-depth, including price, timeline, and deliverables. Let’s get started!