I’m currently working with an award-winning screenwriter, and collaborating with him takes me back to my early days when I was all about screenwriting too. I loved it. But I quickly realised how different it is from writing novels. Now, to help others who are making this transition, I’ve put together some tips on how to bring out your inner novelist when you’re turning your screenplay into a novel.
So, you’ve spent years mastering the art of screenwriting—crafting those intense, episodic stories, snappy dialogues, and intricately timed plot twists. But now, you’re ready to venture into the world of novel writing. If you’re feeling a bit out of your element, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Moving from screenwriting to novel writing is a challenge, but it’s also a chance to stretch your creative muscles in new ways. Here are some tips:
1. The right narrative voice is important
In screenwriting, your voice is subtle—almost invisible—because the director, actors, and cinematographer will all bring their own interpretations. But in a novel, your narrative voice is front and centre, guiding the reader through the story.
Consider the works of Haruki Murakami, whose narrative voice is unmistakable—a blend of surrealism and deep introspection. Whether you’re channelling the calm, detached tone of a Murakami novel or the vibrant, poetic language of a traditional Chinese wuxia novel, finding your narrative voice is like discovering the soul of your story. It’s what makes your tale uniquely yours, so let it shine.
2. Embrace the internal world
In screenwriting, it’s all about what the audience can see and hear. Visuals are paramount, and if it’s not on screen, it doesn’t exist. But novels? That’s an entirely different game. Now, you’re not just describing what’s happening—you’re diving into your characters’ minds, exploring their deepest thoughts, fears, and desires.
Take inspiration from the Japanese concept of mono no aware—the awareness of the impermanence of things, and the gentle sadness that comes with it. This nuanced understanding of emotion can transform your narrative, allowing readers to experience the world through your characters’ internal struggles and fleeting moments of beauty. What’s going through their minds during a quiet tea ceremony? How do they feel as they walk through a cherry blossom garden? Readers love getting inside a character’s head, especially when those thoughts resonate with universal human experiences.
3. Keep the dialogue real and natural
In screenwriting, dialogue is everything. But in a novel, it’s just one part of a much bigger picture. You’ve got more space to breathe, which means you can dig into the subtext and the silences between the words.
Look at the dialogues in Korean dramas, which are often loaded with unspoken tension and layers of meaning. In a novel, you can delve into the thoughts behind those carefully chosen words, exploring the cultural nuances and emotional subtext that are just as important as what’s being said. And if your characters are more like the quiet, introspective heroes of Studio Ghibli films, that’s great too. Remember: in novels, silence can be just as powerful as speech.
4. Set the scene with words, not just actions
In a screenplay, you might write, “EXT. BAMBOO FOREST - NIGHT.” And that’s it. The production team takes it from there. But in a novel, you have to create that tranquil, yet slightly ominous, bamboo forest with just your words.
Think of your readers as travellers exploring a new world. Your job is to paint the scene so vividly that they can almost feel the cool breeze rustling through the bamboo leaves, hear the distant sound of a temple bell, and sense the lurking danger just beyond the shadows. Just like in classic Chinese poetry, where every word is chosen carefully to evoke the natural world, your descriptions should immerse readers in a fully realised environment that lingers in their minds long after they’ve put the book down.
5. Expand your story
Screenplays are like finely-tuned machines: every scene, every line has to drive the main plot forward. But novels? They’re more like a journey through a sprawling landscape, with plenty of room for detours, side stories, and unexpected encounters.
Consider the structure of Chinese historical novels, such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where multiple storylines and characters intertwine. This is your chance to flesh out secondary characters, explore subplots, and build a more complex world. Maybe that mysterious figure your protagonist keeps encountering in the crowded streets of Shanghai has a story of their own, or perhaps there’s an ancient family secret that needs to be uncovered. In novels, you have the space to let these elements grow and develop naturally.
6. Play with themes, symbols, etc
In screenplays, themes and symbols are often conveyed visually—a recurring motif, a meaningful prop. In a novel, you can weave these elements into the very fabric of your prose.
Think of your novel as a haiku, where every image, every detail, contributes to the overall theme. Whether you’re using the symbolism of cherry blossoms to represent the fleeting nature of life, or the recurring image of a koi fish swimming upstream to signify resilience, this is your chance to play with deeper meanings. Layer your story with symbols and metaphors that will keep your readers reflecting long after they’ve finished the book.
7. Let go of the visual crutch
One of the biggest challenges for screenwriters-turned-novelists is letting go of the visual crutch. In film, a single shot can convey volumes—a lantern floating down a river, the flicker of a samurai’s sword, a single tear falling into a bowl of ramen. In a novel, you have to translate those visuals into words.
But here’s the upside: you’re not limited to just one sense. You can evoke the scent of incense in a Kyoto temple, the sound of cicadas on a summer evening, or the taste of freshly brewed matcha. Create a multi-sensory experience that’s far more immersive than anything on the big screen. So go ahead, dive into those rich descriptions, and let your imagination soar.
8. Master the pacing (please!)
Screenplays stick to a strict timeline—every scene, every beat is carefully timed to keep the audience hooked. Novels, on the other hand, offer more flexibility. You can slow down, explore a character’s backstory, or linger over the description of a breathtaking landscape.
9. Patience, grasshopper
Let’s be honest: transitioning from screenwriting to novel writing isn’t going to happen overnight. It’s a learning process, and there will be bumps along the way. But that’s all part of the journey.
With time, you’ll find your rhythm, and before you know it, you’ll be crafting novels that are just as compelling as your screenplays—maybe even more so.
What are you doing? You thought there was more? Ha. Not today! Go and grab that laptop, pour yourself a cuppa, and get writing!
E, x
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