A Screenwriter Takes To Novel Writing
Wesley Strick is a screenwriter whose credits include “Cape Fear” (1991) and “Return to Paradise” (1998). His first novel, “Out There in the Dark,” was published this year by St. Martin’s Press.
A few years ago, I called the guy at my agent’s office who handles book projects to say I was taking a break from writing movies to try my hand at a novel. “When you’re done, I’ll send it to New York,” he replied, “but probably under a false name. Publishers don’t think highly of screenwriters.”
As for what Hollywood thinks of novelists, it’s simple: Books are things to be adapted. You’ve seen the Oscar category: best adapted screenplay. And “adapt” means (look it up) to change or modify — words to give a prose writer pause unless, of course, that prose writer wants to change or modify his bank account balance. Having signed both book contracts and movie contracts, I can confirm there are more zeros in the latter.
A few more differences . . . Los Angeles Times: A writer unblocked
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Mike,
Indeed, but it usually goes one way: namely novelists try their hand at Hollywood with varying degrees of success, going clear back to F. Scott Fitzgerald, Faulkner, and so on. Some novelists have smashing careers out in movieland: William Goldman (Butch Cassidy, All The President’s Men), Richard Price, Michael Chabon (one of the Spiderman II writers), Peter Lefcourt, to name but a few.
What’s unusual about the article on Mr. Strick, I think, is that he’s coming back the other way. He’s a successful screenwriter who decided to write a novel. You don’t see that every day. I’m sure there are others. Maybe someone will share.
rd
What’s funny is how many “serious” novelist also write screenplays. Richard Russo comes to mind as one.