How Writing a Screenplay Compares to Writing a Novel - video

Screenwriter Julie Tosh details the similarities and differences between screenplay and novel writing to help you create the best story for the silver screen. A novel and screenplay both need to read well and tell a good story. But one major difference between them is that a novel is a finished work, while a screenplay is the construction plans for the finished work. No matter how much instruction and information you give in your screenplay, it's never exactly how it turns out. In creating a film, there are many factors that affect the final product, such as the director, actors, and filming location. Another difference is the amount of description and explanation in the story. In a novel, you can write inner dialogue and detailed descriptions of scenes. In a screenplay, you must give the audience only the necessary information they need. Too many details slow down the momentum of the story.