How to Turn a Book Into a Movie

On Reading 529 Comments

I’m often asked what I look for when I evaluate books for the movie biz.

First and foremost, I look for the elements that are important to my employers–things that they are specifically looking for in terms of genre, execution, etcetera. I read for a couple of different places, and each has a slightly different mandate.

In general, in order for a book to become a movie it has to have a strong, forward-moving plot line, and a premise that you can easily picture on a poster or in a TV ad campaign. Deal killers are:

1) The story has been done before
2) The concept is “soft”–takes too long to explain because it has a lot of nuance. This is also called “execution dependent.” The Hours is a prime example of this. Generally speaking, you can only get away with a soft concept when the book is a bestseller.
3) The story is small, meaning the stakes don’t feel like they matter very much or that the obstacles seem easily surmountable.

If you have read a book and think you have what it takes to turn it into a movie–

DO NOT START WRITING.

It is imperative that you obtain the film rights to the book before you begin the adaptation.

“But Superfast Reader, what if I write it so good that the movie people just have to have it?”

The answer to that is litigation.

If the rights have already been taken, not only will no one read your script, they might actually take legal action against you to stop you from writing (and the law would be on their side). In the case of Writers’ Guild credit arbitration, which determines, in the case of multiple writers, who contributed what elements to a screenplay, only writers hired by the rights-holder will be considered. So if you think one of your ideas ended up in the movie, you’re basically out of luck–unless you know for sure that someone at that company read your script and stole your idea. These kinds of lawsuits do happen, but they are very costly to bring to court. And because of high-profile story-stealing cases like Coming to America, studios, financiers, and production companies are on their guard. Nobody, and I mean nobody, in their right mind will touch your script for their with a 10-foot pole.

If the rights aren’t available, you might think that you should write the screenplay to prove that the book would make a great movie, enticing a moneybags to option the book for you. Here, you run the risk of losing the book to someone else, which would take you back into the nightmare of the 1st situation. You’re just setting yourself up for heartbreak.

To find out rights availability for a book, the official route is to call the publisher and ask to speak to “Subsidiary Rights.” More than likely, you will get a recording requesting that you fax or email a request. Some publishers have this information on their websites as well. You are inquiring about the film rights, and in your letter you must also establish why they should give you this information. If they don’t deem you a legitimate candidate, they might never, ever respond to you.

The good news is that many writers have websites and allow you to contact them directly. Your best bet, if you really fall in love with a book, is to make your case directly to the author, and get him on your side. If you’re lucky, you’ll hit it off and she’ll option her book to you. Now you have the legal right to shop the book around, write the screenplay, and make the movie.

Last night’s work read was the new book by a best-selling author who I just really don’t get at all. His books are way too weird for me, and this was no exception.

529 thoughts on “How to Turn a Book Into a Movie”

  1. Did you know,
    One time when the Lincoln New Mexico Sheriff was passing by a Hispanic sweet-heart’s home, through the window he happened to of observe Henry/William McCarty-Bowne, giving piggy- back rides to all of the youngsters.
    So the question is, did this make the lawman think twice about his valuable prey?
    T. Ray D.

  2. On second thought,
    Why should I reveal my knowledge about the “Kid”, because so far, (and ever since 09/11/2001… It, has been a far and long between interest for us Americans when it comes to the, “Real Old-West”.
    So, as a final step let us absorb the yarns of our Old-West- Ancestors and I recommend this since, seeing as though Hollywood butchered the western impact of our nation, then let us begin anew. OK?
    T. Ray D.

  3. ‘I love stories,’
    Did you know there were two types of infamous lawmen and outlaws? It was just like with our athletes of today. Some riders and bounty hunters had their posse while others preferred to watch out for themselves …and-so, look at the personal lives of all of these men …with, caution.
    Wyatt Earp had his brothers and Doc Holliday and visa/visa, Butch and Sundance had a slew of supportive stopping points with many land owners, as did Jesse and Frank James too. The Kid-HenryMcCarty, who turned into William H. Bonney in 1879, like a ghost could get by with any or no riding partners but if he had a half dozen or so, he was the undisputable leader. FUN-STUFF!

  4. hi, im an author who just landed my first book-deal. luckily my attorney was able to retain my film rights — which i’ve been told is hard to do for an unheard-of, unknown author. anyway, i looked on google to find agents who specialize in turning books into movies. i signed with one. then i thought about taking a screenwriting class. now i realize that even stephen king was not allowed to write screenplays for his biggest movies. so, just to let you, just because you wrote the book there is no chance you will write the movie. all that said, i canceled my screenwriting class, and am now focusing instead on my second book!

  5. one last thing.
    go to
    everyonewhosanyone.com.
    thats where i found my book-to-movie agent!

  6. Ash, great name and what a coincidence!!
    Ash-(Ashton) Upson, was the co-writer of Pat Garrett’s book, 1-Year after the County Sheriff stalked and killed his valuable prey, Billy Bonney, (the Kid).
    Pat started to write about it but after months of frustration he hired the one-lunged writer & pressman from N.Y.C. & Fort Sumner, NM to help him explain his hunting down the most famous, “Outlaw” from America’s Old-West.
    Keep up the good work Ash, and Ashton!

  7. “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws”
    ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4
    By Boston Author/Researcher:
    T. Ray Dickerson
    ‘Yes it is 1912 K.C.-Missouri except this short novel, just may make the reader reseaarh the real, Old West.’
    And what a blast it is… T.R.D.

  8. Okay first of all what am gona say right now .. would be crazy … but crazy things might work … my words will be to the people who are interested About love stories that is mixed with Dreams and imagination .. all of you .. had watched twilight and new moon .. and these movies was made from a book .. okay I made a book that owns a love story .. And the funny thing that i cant find a love story in any movies i had ever watched .. like the one i made .. this book called angel on earth .. i wrote poetries .. people call me next shakspeare .. that’s funny right .. but believe me .. they call me that .. because am so good .. the book i had done .. it’s away of amazing .. i can say perfect .. and who does make mistakes isnt a human and am just a human who make mistakes .. and my mistake was that i made that book and never told any one about it .. so its like i made it for my self .. but i was searching about could writing a book makes alot of money .. and am not rich in money but am rich in words .. and who Can be interested in this .. and he can help .. be sure That the best movie in the world thats what i own .. could any one imagine how my words are crazy and u just cant believe that .. but i know and people know in my country that i am the best .. but a book that i wrote could turn ino a movie .. it must be in america .. cause the best movie makers are in america .. thats what i know .. in my country they dont have the development . in these stuff .. so who would be interested … am just here ..

  11. Ohhh man the best part of beirut , is when you said , I walk near an army like a Dean who told you angels could be seen , we opened the ocean’s ground for a hate , the souls we sell the hearts we ate , shall i thee the shallows that of hell , shall i be a thy to kill , A moeter even a shell , from a sun it fall , two sides of water made a wall , would i be sorry what i got to all , phoenix tell me where is my desire , phoenicia was lebanon admire , beirut in a week , an army that seek , for a light on a cords , i closed the heavens gate , you thought my words could not be rate , a star more than a shakpseare <3 i love this part

  12. that was on my group on facebook khaled ……. status of the day…… and yes it was part of beirut poetry …… And please am trying to do something here .. .. so if you want to do coments .. you have my group .. u can cover it with your coments .. you ordy had done that aight .. this msg is not for you as it coming ( please read the coment i posted before khaled talks to the people who are intersted )

  14. “As For my Last Post …No, Not Really People”

    I love this sight and yes I too took a, “Speed Reading Course”, back in the 1980’s. “Evelyn Woods”, does anyone remember it?
    The reason for attending these courses was because at the time while I was working Quality Control I had to proof-read a mountain of documents, and believe me speed reading works.

    So… who wants to turn my book int a movie? ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4
    Title: Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws
    ‘…a, 1912 Kansas CityMO-Murder Mystery.’

    Question: How many children did William Bonney, “Billy the Kid”, father …and, were they male or female?
    Answer: Tray1881@aol.com

  16. “Bring it on Doug …So, Do Tell Us About It”

    As for me I love all kinds of genders and sci-fi is going to be my next project, except it’ll be intertwined with factual history and contemporary C. S. I..
    …Oh-and-hey! Where are all the female authors? Nothing wrong with a good romance novel so tell me about yours. (Seriously, I find Woman are the best creators of precarious situations and us guys, well, we don’t create but instead we tell our personal stories).
    ‘Let’s trade notes ‘ – tray1881@aol.com

    Question: What country did Butch Cassidy and Harry “The Sundance Kid” Longabaugh, escape too?

  17. “‘So …You Thought You Would Come To This Sight And Automatically Turn Your Manuscript Into A Movie’And To Be Honest, So Did I. ”

    ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4
    By T. Ray Dickerson
    Answers …2-daughters,and Bolivia…

  18. hmmm.
    none of you seem to be listening.
    i told you:
    click this:

    everyonewhosanyone.com

    thats how i got my movie agent!!!!!!!!!!! if you want to make your book into a movie this is the best way, at least it was for me.

    dont be fooled by all these agents telling you ‘what they look for.’ who do they think they are? remember, agents are not gods, no matter what the publishing world says. its time writers take back their power. to the agents of the world, i say — enough is enough! writer power!!

    and thats the last time i offer my advice to y’all lol d

  19. Hey, I am friends with a writer whom has written this awesome book, and we want it to be a movie. We need loads of help, though, and none of the movie companies want to help us. Does anybody here have an idea on how we can make this a success?

  20. I have a book called Mystic Moon. Everyone whom has read it says how wonderful of a movie it will be.
    It is about a girl named Alicia, the first book is at least, and she is being chased by a mad killer. A horse named Mystic saves her, but the killer is still out there…
    The second one is the book I want to be a movie the most. It is called Mystic’s Story. It is about Alicia’s two children, whom are about to fall into the most dangerous journey of their life when they find out that a killer magic fox is after them.
    You can find my books on Lulu, you can find the free file download here

    http://www.lulu.com/product/pa...../center/10

    The third is where they are all grown up, but I am waiting for the first to be a movie before we set off on that!

    If there is anyone who will be willing to do something with the book, maybe write the screenplay, or even be my agent, I would be very happy, but notice that I won’t be able to pay unless the movie goes over well since I am dead broke.
    -Monique

  21. Jenna Bora, I am in the same place as you. Trust me, I am only 13, I have written a great book, but because I am so young nobody thinks it will go over.
    I will write the screenplay for your book if you’d like.
    Just contact me at
    olgasfosterfarm@rocketmail.com

  22. I think “December’s Eve–The Novel,” which will be released this summer will make a great movie.

    “December’s Eve” is a 250-page, fiction novel about triplet boys who were born in December and delivered by Ms. Evelynn, who is actually Eve from the Garden of Eden—she slowly metamorphisizes into the ravishing Eve. Eve steals the last triplet because of his fire-producing powers and raises him as a tyrant on her bloodthirsty property which also has a bloodthirsty garden. She is back with a vengeance because sin and death had been blamed on her.

    It’s a great book.

  23. Ash, Seeka, Monique,, Sunny, and Blkhorror,
    The funny thing about (so-called Agents) whom want, or must turn your manuscript into a movie, is …’what do you/we get out of it?’
    When it comes to free rides or short residuals be careful guys.
    T.Ray Dickerson
    ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4
    “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws”
    Publishamerica.com & Amazon.com finer/exquisite readings…
    tray1881@aol.com

  24. T. Ray, the odd thing is that you just said for us to b careful on who turns our books into movies, yet you just posted your book.
    Sounds fishy to me.
    And what do we get out of it? If we don’t get a percentage of the movies money, then how come the writers of Harry Potter, Twilight and so on are all sitting in boat loads of cash??? They are living like they saved the world from falling when all they did was write a book, and they got it popular and now they are being pid for it, meanwhile, us “little writes” are getting squat because these “BIG BANG” writers are taking our popularity.
    Somthing I have to say to directors, think about how great of a movie a book will make instead of how much money you will make.

  25. Sorry Senka…Hollywood is in the business of making money through movies…
    If you want to make a great movie off a book and not worry about the money unfortunately you will have to make the movie yourself.
    Why should a studio put millions of dollars in to your book make a good movie that doesnt make the money back in return…Its not good business…that goes for any product…cars, shoes, soap, pencils…We make things to make money…its a business…not a hobby…
    I dont mean to sound harsh but its reality…

    I’ve given some advice on here before and its been awhile since I posted anything so I’ll make another attempt to offer some advice.

    (1) Stop trying to get Hollywood to read your book unless you are on the best sellers list..and if you are, someone is already reading it and you are not on this page posting and reading.
    (2) Hollywood wants to read a script, not a book. So (a) hire someone to write your script or (b) write it yourself.
    (3) If youre going to write it yourself first read at least 50 screenplays(they are free on the internet) and make sure the majority are adaptations. In order to write a GREAT screenplay you need to know how one reads and is written. Pick scripts that have won best screenplay at the academy awards.
    (4) After your script is written get professional coverage. Take these notes and do about 1 to 2 re-writes.
    (5) If your script is GREAT after all of this then enter your script in a few of the well known script competitions.

    For film scripts I recommend: Nicholls Academy, Sundance Writers Lab & Austin Film Festival. These are the most prestigious except Austin but their prize is dope.

    There’s also Fade In, Slamdance, American Zoetrope, Scriptapalooza & AAA Screenwriting contest. These have cash prices, exposure to industry people and some have launched careers.

    If all else fails then you will be forced to jump into the world of filmmaking…go out and buy the book FROM REEL TO DEAL…

    This book will teach you the ins and out to how this business works from A-Z…

    But wait theres more…you dont want to do all of that, I understand trust me…Well if your book is that good and you are this great writer then you should have an agent…All of my writer friends/associates have agents(FYI I was a manager at a book publishing company). If you have an agent, put them to work for you to utilize their contacts and networking. After all if you make money they make money…

    After all of this if you still have not found someone to turn your book into a movie maybe you should ask yourself is my book as good as I think it is…OR you can look at the reality of books to film and look at how many books make it to a film compared to how many books are out there.
    Good luck!!

  26. Hoo-Boy… Senka or Anyone Else Out There
    I’m not saying there isn’t any good publishing agents, studio manuscript readers, or for that matter even, traditional publishers whom would like to see any of us do well. Except what I am saying is, if someone makes an offer that is too good to be true …well-then, it probably is.
    …Or in other words, hopefully the answer lies somewhere in between. Good Luck To ALL!!!
    T. Ray Dickerson
    ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4
    Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws
    ‘A 1912 Divorce and Murder Mystery that took place in Kansas City, MO..’
    So what is the matter Senka, no ISBN No.?

  27. Hi,
    I just happened on this site, and i’m quite optimistic it would throw a few helpful advice my way. I published ‘Agbenu And The Forest Spirits’, an adventurously exciting and detailed animal folktale in 2007.

    Now i’m considering turning it into an animated movie.

    Anyone with a useful information as to how i should go about it?

    Thanks in advance,
    Obande Sunny Jack

  28. i dont know why im leaving more instructions since none of you seemed to follow my last one (go to everyonewhosanyone.com and look up movie agents then write them emails).

    my book will be released next year.

    but i just landed another offer to make it into a movie. how did i do this?
    i made a list of studios/production houses that I like — both indie and mainstream hollywood.
    googled their sites, then googled which staff works for who. then looked them up on facebook. then wrote them a message. rest is history. people, this is common sense. i have no clue why nobody is doing such a simple thing of googling staff names of production homes, then facebook messaging them with your pitch.
    this is last advice i offer to this board. PEOPLE USE YOUR BRAINS. its not that hard.

  30. Ado,
    Why is everyone on this sight, (including me), complicating things? And since your book isn’t released yet then are you not putting the cart before the horse? The fun for me is when the book is released and then you start hearing the reviews from not just the media …but especially your readers. If they’re positive then we have a good product, and if not? Then its back to the keyboard. After all, who’s going to turn a mediocre story into a mediocre movie? Lastly, myself I believe my book would be a great movie but so far I only have admirers in MA, FL, MD, UT, LA, OH, NM,and CA, so, maybe when I get it up to 25-or-so states then I will heed your advice in-which, I find it very helpful …good job.
    “Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws”
    ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4
    At Amazon and other fine distributors… with, a second short novel to be released this Summer.

  31. first- thanks for actually taking the time to read my post lol

    second – have confidence that your book WILL be a movie. and it will. problem is, none of us believe that will happen, and when we don’t believe it, of course it won’t happen.

    third- ALWAYS put the cart before the horse. just a lesson i learned in life — when you operate as if you’ve already made it, the universe listens, and every single thing you look for will happen. as schmaltz as that sounds, it works.
    seems to me you have little confidence in your work, so naturally nothing will happen to it. so, you really need to start loving what you write.
    remember, a salesperson cant sell anything until s/he wants to buy it.

    plus– all writers have told me its best to option your book before its released. movies take a WHILE to be made. if you option it now, it will still be a long time before its made.

    well, thats that for now. so, bottom line: NOW is the time to go for it. And have confidence that all fifty states will love your work.

  32. Everything you say may be true …only, their is more than one way to skin a Cat. I have all the confidence in the World in my writings, and so much so I drive fellow bloggers crazy by always promoting it. I guess what I was trying to say is, all writers (or most), feel good about their works but its easy to get wrapped up in yourself. By testing the waters and listening to constructive criticism then this allows us to see the big picture. (by that I mean, if all genders enjoy our work, most, some, or none). Once there is a satisfaction that it’s not just good in our own minds but in others too, then the sky is the limit. And-yes, I’m going for it but on my own terms, and not just to make money but to entertain people as well.
    ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4 is a 1912 Kansas City Divorce and Murder Mystery …and its derived from a true story.

  33. i dont know where i said anything about not wanting to write for readers around the world but to write selfishly for yourself. i think our readerships matter most, after all they are who will be receiving our art.

    that said, you have to do what works for you. rock on!

    all i can do is offer my measly two cents.

  34. Hi Superfast reader!

    I just chanced upon this page and the first line of this post intrigued me: “I evaluate books for the movie biz” it seems like a reference to something I have been hoping to find more information about but never found the right information.

    I would like to pursue a career (I’m 18 so I have time :P) in a job where I would be an agent who shops specifically for books that would make great movies. I know there is such a job, but just as a demonstration of how clueless I am about the whole thing, I don’t even know the name of that job, or how to get a job like that!

    If you have any information that could help me PLEASE PLEASE pretty please email me…it would mean a lot to me!

    thanks!
    11rt01@sis.org.cn

  35. Hmm…
    Sounds like, “How to Catch a Predator”, to me. Nah, just kidding.

    Hi Rachel,
    If you are just graduating high school, (obviously), then what I would recommend is, you take some English Composition courses but maybe you have. (English Comp. 1 & 2). And if for any reason, it would be just for the incredible experience.
    I went to a local State College here in Mass., and it turned out my teacher had written speeches for the White House …I think, 1967 to 1984. And the man was full of (reading insight), from William Shakespeare to Steven King.
    Good Luck!

  37. Hi my book was published last year how can I find out if it is worthy of becoming a movie.

  38. my book is now available on 907 web sites world wide including China and South Korea

    “Trust Me” by John Fisher

    My story is a simple tale about a 49 year old man who goes over to his friend’s house and touched his latest
    invention and suddenly finds himself in the year 1969. Invisible to everyone around him except for one person.
    His 11 year old self. He remembers how shy and bullied he was as a child and convinces his younger self to let him navigate him though his rough times. Teaching how to dress, talk and walk. Greatly Improving his relationship with his mother and father.  Then it on to his 4th grade mean teacher. Making small leaps through time, he’s in middle school completely rocking the school with his knowledge of sex, dealing in a positive way with four bullies. PE coaches and their paddles.  In high school, he advises his younger self how to connect with his first crush. Saves his girlfriend and other girls from an evil boy. Though out my book, my character grow more confident and helps more of his classmates.
       Several opportunities to laugh and cry. My character returns to a world much nicer and more just

    http://www.borders.com/online/.....161546266X

    ISBN 978-1-61546-266-7

    http://www.uujohn.webs.com

    any one interested in turning it into a movie?

  40. If you read the new book,
    He Holds The Sparrow, on line Barnes and Noble.com, and you feel it is movie material I am the author and I’m accepting investors.
    blessings

  42. “The Bonney-McCarty Boys”
    About the Book
    It is for the present day western enthusiasts how Josie‘s, Henry‘s, and Billy’s characters are constantly redefined by their own campfire yarns, except this time, it is by someone who also will attempt to combine the, “Folklore Kid’s“, complicated characteristics in which all rose to the deadly occasion while living and traveling, and continued long after his, (or their‘s), death.
    With this being his second historically accurate-western fiction, it is in this western novel that the author, T. Ray Dickerson, intertwines several history-characters into one “Western Kid”. Yet he claims, ‘ironically, this one is for the coming ages of a new, “Western History Lover“, as well as those whom seek the real, (and not so real), days of the Cattle and Merchant Wars, Lawmen and Outlaws, Round-ups, and Trail Rides …from and to: “Anywhere, Western-USA“. Also, here and there it is sprinkled with a detective-like, 21st Century spice.
    PLEASE NOTE:
    This Fictional Novel is created with the hopes that it will draw history lovers back to the days of the non-fictional, “Old-West” …and aside from a well done fictional story, in many ways the truth is always stranger than the campfire yarns.
    (Not Released …Yet).

    Other Works By: T. Ray Dickerson
    “Coping With In-Laws and Outlaws”
    ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4
    Published: November-2006
    Released: January – 2007
    publishamerica.com

  43. Hello, first time reader/poster. I had a question about subsidiary rights. Your blog post addresses obtaining rights for living authors. What about rights to works by authors that are deceased? I’m interested in writing a screenplay for a novel whose author died over 50 years ago. Should I try to find a trust who may own copyrights or should the work be in the public domain?

  44. It depends on when the work was first published. The laws are a little complicated as to when things pass into the public domain, but I think works published prior to 1928 are safe–but don’t quote me, I’m not a lawyer. If it’s not in the public domain, you’ll look for the estate or trust. The publisher should know.

  45. I have just published a sci-fi blockbuster book on kindle that I have deliberately written in a style tha would work well as a movie.
    Could you recommend any specialist sci-fi film book shopers that I could submit the story to?
    Film logline is:
    A hundred years in the future in a world that has degenerated into a stark division between those who have financial wealth and security and those living in desperate poverty within wasteland settlements due to overpopulation and financial iniquity, a multi billionaire head of a Space Station re-supply company embarks on a project to address these acute problems by bringing a planet close to Earth’s orbit and then colonizing it. His plan is to deliberately strike a selected planet with Asteroids that are towed out of their orbits by rockets from his fleet and re-direct them in a controlled series of collisions to knock the planet out of orbit and to re-engineer the hostile environment of the plant to be survivable for mankind.
    The planet selected for relocation is Venus.
    To ensure that he can remains personally in control of this plan which will take many decades to unfold, he creates a virtual cloned copy of himself that can exist indefinitely in cyberspace. The problems he has to overcome seem insurmountable and the threat from those that would attempt to steal such a prize or take it by force are very real and treacherous.
    The book is available on Amazon and Kindle at:
    http://www.amazon.com/Venus-ebook/dp/B003XIJ69C

  47. my book The spirit of martin luther king
    the stories are fiction but we all can related

  48. my book The spirit of martin luther king
    the stories are fiction but we all can related you can get it at barnes and noble

  50. 300 Down To 6,
    Between the author, his ex-mother in-law, and a deceased mutual preacher friend, the three people bought 300 copies of: Coping With In-Laws And Outlaws …ISBN No. 1-4241-1171-4 and now, only 6-books remain in inventory. Plus, anyone can check Amazon, and all book distributors online, to find this jewel in the rough. Producers welcomed.

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