Hey there, lovely readers! Today, I’ve got a tale to tell that’s equal parts personal reflection and professional insight, courtesy of Hart Hanson. You might know him as the mastermind behind hit TV shows, but today, he's taking us on a journey through the world of writing—comparing the art of crafting screenplays to the nuanced endeavor of novel writing.
First, let’s kick things off with a little backstory that might make you smile. Imagine a small lumber mill town in Idaho called Potlatch, nestled where the panhandle meets the pan. In 1953, Potlatch High School, with its whopping graduating class of seven, won the state championship in Track & Field. Yep, you read that right. One guy (Hart’s father!) won every event except the relay, which he couldn’t run solo because rules are rules. My grandparents boasted a lot about that accomplishment, but my father did not. When I asked him why, he said it was because real sports meant being part of a team.
While my father thrived in team sports, I was more of a solo act. High school saw me wrestling (not great at offense, but good luck pinning me) and swimming long distances. This personal dichotomy mirrors the key differences between writing for TV and writing books. My dad's team spirit versus my lone wolf tendencies helped me understand my own writing journey, which had to balance financial needs and creative passions.
When I asked my dad how he achieved his solo victories, he gave me a piece of wisdom that’s guided my writing ever since: “It’s all athletics. Just throw your body at it as hard as you can.” I translated that into writing terms: It’s all writing. Just throw your (fingers? eyeballs? head?) at (the blank page) as hard as you can.
Facing the Blank Page: A Writer’s Trial
Every writer knows the fear of the blank page. For novelists, this can feel like staring into an endless void, a quiet abyss that demands creation. For screenwriters, however, this silence is replaced by a cacophony of demands and expectations, a sonic boom of input from producers, directors, and actors.
Imagine this noise as a pack of hyenas at dinnertime. A movie-writer friend of mine hears a subsonic groan; another hears a banshee shriek. These sounds represent the pre-existing demands of a team of people who have a say in the script’s final form. Book-writers, in contrast, have the freedom (and the curse) of only answering to themselves.
The Team Sport of Screenwriting
Writing for TV or movies is inherently collaborative. A script is just the starting point, the foundation upon which a visual story is built. This means scriptwriters need allies—directors, producers, actors, and more—each bringing their expertise to transform words on a page into a living, breathing narrative. The scriptwriter's job is to get all these players on board, often requiring a focus on story above all else to meet the expectations of those who fund and create the final product.
When a script falters, the blame can be shared: poor direction, bad editing, unconvincing acting, or even a mismatched score. There’s a whole team to point fingers at. When a script succeeds, the glory is similarly shared, though usually, the director reaps the lion’s share of the accolades.
The Solo Journey of Novel Writing
Novel writing, on the other hand, is a solitary endeavor. The book is its final form, and the writer is solely responsible for every word, every nuance, and every twist of the plot. This independence allows for a deeper dive into characters’ inner worlds, offering readers a glimpse into their thoughts and feelings in a way that scripts rarely do.
Books have the luxury of introspection. They can pause, reflect, and explore without the constant need to push the story forward. This can be both freeing and daunting. There are countless paths to take in a novel, and only the writer is responsible for choosing the right one. When a book succeeds, the credit is all yours. When it fails, there’s no one else to blame but the marketing team or perhaps the audiobook narrator.
Scripts are About Doing, Books are About Being
One of the most striking differences between screenwriting and novel writing is how they handle action and introspection. Scripts are driven by what characters do. They’re about external actions, clearly defined goals, and visible struggles. Ask a screenwriter what their script is about, and they should be able to summarize it in a sentence or two.
Books, however, are about being. They explore not just what characters do, but who they are. Ask a novelist what their book is about, and you might get a long, winding answer that touches on themes, emotions, and subplots. Books can afford to meander, to delve into the rich inner lives of their characters, and to take their time unfolding the story.
The Art of Externalizing the Internal
In scripts, internal thoughts and feelings must be externalized. A character thinking about a past experience needs to be shown, not told. This often requires creative dramatization, where every inner conflict is mirrored by an external action. For instance, a script might simply state, “The character thinks,” but showing that on screen involves much more than just a thoughtful expression.
Books, in contrast, can take readers inside a character’s mind, offering detailed thoughts and reflections. This ability to dwell in the internal makes books rich with introspection and philosophical musings that scripts usually avoid.
The Final Word: Writing with Heart
Both screenwriting and novel writing have their unique challenges and rewards. Screenwriting is a team effort, requiring collaboration and compromise, but offering the support of many hands to shape the final product. Novel writing is a solitary journey, allowing for deep personal expression but also demanding complete responsibility for the end result.
For me, the choice between the two ultimately came down to necessity and inclination. My dad’s advice to “throw your body at it as hard as you can” served me well in both realms. Whether facing the deafening clamor of a script’s demands or the silent abyss of a blank novel page, the key is to dive in with everything you’ve got.
So, whether you’re crafting the next blockbuster screenplay or penning a heartfelt novel, remember that both forms of writing are about connection. Scripts connect through action, bringing stories to life with the help of a team. Books connect through introspection, offering readers a window into another’s soul.
In the end, all writing is about sharing a piece of yourself with the world. So, throw yourself at it, give it your all, and let the story unfold.
Until next time, happy writing!
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