It’s no secret that Hollywood is always looking for new material to adapt to movies. And with the ever-growing popularity of books, it’s no wonder that more and more manuscripts are making their way to Tinseltown every year. If you’re one of the lucky authors whose book has been optioned by a movie studio, congratulations! But don’t start celebrating just yet. Your work is only half done. For your manuscript to make it to the big screen, it first needs to be polished and ready for production. Here are a few tips on how to do just that:
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1) Seek Help From Professional Editors
Even if you think your manuscript is ready for a movie adaption, it’s always a good idea to have it professionally edited. The second set of eyes from young adult book editors can catch things you might have missed. Sometimes it’s helpful to have someone else point out where your story needs work. If you’re serious about getting your manuscript adapted into a movie, then it’s worth the investment to hire a professional editor. It could be the difference between getting your story made into a film and having it languish in development hell. Professional editors can help you tighten up your plot, improve your dialogue, and make your description more vivid and engaging. They can also offer helpful feedback and suggestions on making your story even better.
2) Cut Out Unnecessary Words and Scenes
For your manuscript to make it to the big screen, it first needs to be polished and ready for production. This means cutting unnecessary words and scenes to tighten up the plot and make the story more concise. Always ask yourself whether each word is necessary. If not, then get rid of it. You’ll be surprised at how much trimming you can do without compromising the story. Just as important as trimming down words is cutting out unnecessary scenes. Ask yourself whether each scene advances the plot or takes up space. If it doesn’t serve a purpose, then get rid of it. This will help keep your story moving at a brisk pace.
3) Make Sure Your Plot Is Tight and Well-Structured
When editing your manuscript, it’s vital to ensure that your plot is tight and well-structured. This means having a clear beginning, middle, and end. Each scene should move the story forward and build upon the last. While editing, ask yourself whether each scene is essential to the story. If not, then it needs to be cut.
Additionally, make sure that your plot points are clear and easy to follow. If you find that your story is meandering or feels disjointed, go back and look at your plot structure. You can tighten things up by cutting out unnecessary scenes and rearranging others.
4) Make Your Characters Compelling and Relatable
One of the most important aspects of any story is the characters. They need to be compelling and relatable for readers (or viewers) to invest in them. You need to take a close look at your characters. Are they fully developed? Do they feel real? Do we understand their motivations? If not, then you’ll need to flesh them out more. Give them backstories, flaws, and goals. The more complex and realistic your characters are, the more likely people will be to invest in them emotionally.
5) Pay Close Attention to Dialogue
Dialogue is an essential part of any story, but it’s often one of the most challenging things. It needs to be realistic, but it also needs to move the story forward. When editing your dialogue, ask yourself whether each line is necessary. Does it advance the plot? Does it reveal something about the character? If not, then get rid of it. It’s also important to make sure that your dialogue sounds natural. Read it out loud to see how it flows. Does it sound like something people would say? If not, then you’ll need to rewrite it.
6) Make Your Description Vivid and Engaging
The description is an integral part of setting the scene and immersing readers in your world. But it can also be one of the most challenging things to get right. Ask yourself whether it’s clear and concise. Is it easy to visualize? Does it add to the story or take up space? If you find that your description is vague or difficult to follow, you’ll need to revise it. Be specific and use concrete details. The more vivid and engaging your description is, the easier it will be for readers to picture the scene in their minds.
7) Polish Your Manuscript Until It Shines
After you’ve made the necessary edits, it’s time to polish your manuscript until it shines. This means going through and making sure that everything is perfect, from the grammar and punctuation to the story’s overall flow. Take your time with this step. Read your manuscript over and over again. Make sure that there are no errors and that everything flows smoothly. If you’re still not happy with it, keep working at it until you are. Remember, the goal is to make your story the best it can be.
8) Get Feedback From Trusted Readers
Once you’ve gone through all of the above steps, it’s time to get feedback from trusted readers. These are people whose opinion you trust and who will be honest about your story. Show them your manuscript and ask for their thoughts. What did they like? What didn’t they like? What could be improved? Their feedback will be invaluable in helping you make your story even better.
Even if you think your story is perfect, there’s a good chance that you’ll need to make changes before it’s ready for a movie adaptation. Be prepared to revise your plot, characters, dialogue, and description. And don’t be afraid to make significant changes if necessary. Use their feedback to make the necessary changes. The goal is to create the best story possible, so don’t be afraid to do whatever it takes to make that happen.
You can polish your manuscript and make it ready for a movie adaptation by following these tips. Remember, this is your last chance to make a good impression on potential readers or Hollywood executives. So take your time and make sure that your manuscript is the best.