Comparing Novel Writing To Screenwriting - Tony DuShane

Tony DuShane is the author of the semi-autobiographical novel Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk. He adapted the screenplay for director Eric Stoltz, and the film is now available on Amazon Prime. His journalism and essays have appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Mother Jones, Penthouse, The Believer, and other media outlets. DuShane has hosted the author interview show Drinks with Tony since 2002. He just finished his next novel Dream Casting and is seeking a happy home for it.

MORE VIDEOS WITH TONY DUSHANE

CONNECT WITH TONY DUSHANE

RELATED VIDEOS

(Affiliates)

SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A MEMBER

CONNECT WITH FILM COURAGE

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FILM COURAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL

LISTEN TO THE FILM COURAGE PODCAST

Stuff we use:

AUDIO

*These are affiliate links, by using them you can help support this channel.

#writing #screenwriting #writers

[dustyhills]

The first "screenplay" I attempted to write to completion was an adaptation of a short novel. The author hired me, knowing I had zero experience, but wanting to give me a shot to learn by doing. My first draft was about 40 pages too long. I had no idea what I was doing. I was approaching scripts like a novelist, and I still struggle with being too "wordy" even today. I feel like it's my final dragon to slay in my screenwriting adventures. Trust the actors and director with subtext!!!

[ij]

Beginning novel writer here (not professionally). This channel has been awesome, great advice on story telling in general. :))

[PCIMPOSSIBLE]

“I got divorced from literature and married the cinema. Conveying emotion through text and through images are two very different things.”

[DovieRuthAuthor]

I'm always amazed at how skillfully a literary work can be transformed into a great screenplay. "Yentl" came from a tiny vintage book that was barely long enough to be a novella. The movie completely fleshed out the characters. The music and cinematography were icing on the cake.

[blatherskite]

It feels to me as if novel writing is more difficult, because there are whole layers of thoughts, descriptions, internal monologues, etc., that don't have to be tackled in screenwriting. Screenwriting is more like a compressed "list" of events - what we see, what the characters say, the actions that happen - and none of it is carved in stone; it's a framework for others (e.g. actors and directors) to use as a creative jumping-off point.

With novel-writing, on the other hand, all of the bucks stop with you. You're working with the full spectrum of frequencies and are in charge of everything - the sets, the costumes, the direction, the actors; all of it. Simply saying "They fight" and leaving it to a fight choreographer to work out the pesky details is not an option.

Screenwriting has its own challenges, such as how to convey certain kinds of information like thoughts, memories, unstated motivations, in a strictly audiovisual way without being clumsy. But working with a reduced set of tools - and working within the reduced set of options that imposes - can be invigorating. Sometimes limiting your options is the key to getting your creative mojo working.

[maximumtaste]

It's really intimidating to be an aspiring screenwriter and a control freak at the same time. It's all about giving a room for creative process for director and actors but then my mind is screaming what if they all get it the wrong way?

[cluckendip]

this channel always has the most insightful industry interviews out there

[concernedcitizen]

That Jenga analogy is spot on! .. I used the same argument once when being pressed to overly cut scenes.

[johnnydavidauthor]

Loved watching this - I learnt so much in just eight minutes!!! Thank you 😊

[crakhaed]

The interviewer is very wholesome. This channel has great stuff.

[simplyme]

Another valuable interview. Thank you.

[danieltorresjr]

I’ve always been more into watching movies than reading novels. I tried writing my ideas into a novel and I was absolutely terrible at it. I find writing them as screenplays are much easier, which is weird because I usually hear it’s the opposite.

[gamewriteeye]

I tend to see scenes so visually in my mind that for me, the thought process and voice of a character becomes difficult to strain in novel form since I want to conform it to a visual medium of showing(telling I see as a fault).

[madambutterfly]

In the novel the character can be as old or as young as you want.

[therasbull]

He nails it. Not just structure, inner monologs, for example, are better done in novels than screenplays. The novel is a more flexible media

[williamshaw]

"One's a team sport and one's a solo sport."

[osw]

Great insight! But id def write screenplays instead of novels for the rest of my life

[hdgehog]

I took screenwriting at USC back in the '80s. I wrote a few scripts then got offered 300k in '98 for a script - where my agent twisted my arm to write the novel. He said it had money written all over it. I just finished my 5th in the series but had so many fights with publishers that I post it all for free now. I've turned down two options but I'm hopeful finding someone who will do justice to it....

[artodyfilms]

This is my friend and fellow EXJW! Proud of him beyond measure.

[Thenoobestgirl]

I am so looking forward to hearing more from Tony. I love adapting books and it's what I want to do in life, so this is really interesting to me. When can we expect the full interview? :)