With The Academy Awards taking
place tonight and the release of the novelization of Home Run next week, I wanted to share the process of making a
novel out of a movie.
place tonight and the release of the novelization of Home Run next week, I wanted to share the process of making a
novel out of a movie.
#1. THE CALL
In December of 2011, I received a
confidential call from my publisher at David C. Cook (publisher of my teen
series The Solitary Tales). He asked me about my writing schedule and I told
him it looked pretty clear. He told me they were bidding on a novelization of a
film about a baseball player who is forced into recovery. I joked “Yeah, I’m
the one you call when you need a novel about a messed up character.” He told me
the other publishers who were bidding as well. I told my family about this and
prayed Cook woud get the project.
confidential call from my publisher at David C. Cook (publisher of my teen
series The Solitary Tales). He asked me about my writing schedule and I told
him it looked pretty clear. He told me they were bidding on a novelization of a
film about a baseball player who is forced into recovery. I joked “Yeah, I’m
the one you call when you need a novel about a messed up character.” He told me
the other publishers who were bidding as well. I told my family about this and
prayed Cook woud get the project.
#2. THE CONFIRMATION
The following week, I got an email
from the deputy publisher at David C. Cook saying they had negotiated the deal
and were thinking of me to write the novel. The film was called Home Run and they wanted me to finish the novelization by
February 15 or March 1 at the latest, giving me just over a couple of months to
work on it.
from the deputy publisher at David C. Cook saying they had negotiated the deal
and were thinking of me to write the novel. The film was called Home Run and they wanted me to finish the novelization by
February 15 or March 1 at the latest, giving me just over a couple of months to
work on it.
#3. SHOW ME THE MONEY
A week later, David C. Cook and my
agent negotiated how much I would be paid to write this novelization. They went
back and forth and lots of cursing and heated discussions took place. I’m
joking, of course. It was very cordial and the deal came together very quickly.
I knew this was going to be a great opportunity for me, so I really wanted this
project. David C. Cook is a great publisher who I already had worked with, so
everything came together nicely.
agent negotiated how much I would be paid to write this novelization. They went
back and forth and lots of cursing and heated discussions took place. I’m
joking, of course. It was very cordial and the deal came together very quickly.
I knew this was going to be a great opportunity for me, so I really wanted this
project. David C. Cook is a great publisher who I already had worked with, so
everything came together nicely.
#4. THE SCRIPT
Even before officially signing the
contract (but after all parties agreed that I’d be the writer), I started
asking for the script. I had hoped to read it over Christmas break, but
publishing virtually closes the last couple of weeks of the year. I received
the script via email on January 3 and started reading it right away.
contract (but after all parties agreed that I’d be the writer), I started
asking for the script. I had hoped to read it over Christmas break, but
publishing virtually closes the last couple of weeks of the year. I received
the script via email on January 3 and started reading it right away.
#5. FIRST IMPRESSIONS
As I read the script for the first
time, I made notes to myself. I had done one novelization before (ghostwriting
project) so I had some experience. These notes were just thoughts on the story
and the characters. Things I thought I could do, places I could improve, things
I liked.
time, I made notes to myself. I had done one novelization before (ghostwriting
project) so I had some experience. These notes were just thoughts on the story
and the characters. Things I thought I could do, places I could improve, things
I liked.
#6. STARTING WRITING
Even before I connected with the
producers or signed the official contract, I started writing. I couldn’t help
it. I remember writing what I called interludes that later went in between the
chapters. This was just a random idea but one that worked.
producers or signed the official contract, I started writing. I couldn’t help
it. I remember writing what I called interludes that later went in between the
chapters. This was just a random idea but one that worked.
#7. MEETING THE PRODUCERS
I connected with Carol Mathews,
primary producer of Home Run, on the
phone and in email. We also arranged for me to meet with them in person. They
flew me to California to attend a Celebrate Recovery One Day leadership
training session. I not only met the producers but also many of the leaders of
Celebrate Recovery. At this point, I was taking everything in, making notes in
my notebook and in my head.
primary producer of Home Run, on the
phone and in email. We also arranged for me to meet with them in person. They
flew me to California to attend a Celebrate Recovery One Day leadership
training session. I not only met the producers but also many of the leaders of
Celebrate Recovery. At this point, I was taking everything in, making notes in
my notebook and in my head.
#8. GETTING THE VISION
The main thing I wanted was to get
at the heart of what the producers wanted with their film. A story is a story
and can be told in a hundred ways. What were the hot buttons and the things
that Carol and her team wanted out of this novel? I learned that quickly
enough, and continued to learn that as I worked with them. I didn’t have a lot
of time to brainstorm and think and plan—no, they needed a full-length novel
written in a couple of months, so I started living and breathing both baseball
and Celebrate Recovery.
at the heart of what the producers wanted with their film. A story is a story
and can be told in a hundred ways. What were the hot buttons and the things
that Carol and her team wanted out of this novel? I learned that quickly
enough, and continued to learn that as I worked with them. I didn’t have a lot
of time to brainstorm and think and plan—no, they needed a full-length novel
written in a couple of months, so I started living and breathing both baseball
and Celebrate Recovery.
#9. IMMERSION
It’s not hard to imagine a
character getting drunk out of his mind. I’ve had some experience with that.
But I’m not a baseball guy. I quickly immersed myself in the world of baseball
just so I knew the things I was supposed to know. I got half a dozen books on
baseball, started watching baseball movies and documentaries. I wanted to know
all the things I needed to know—what does a major league clubhouse look like,
what’s the life of a professional baseball player, etc. Along with this I
studied and discovered what Celebrate Recovery was all about. As I wrote, I asked
Carol a lot of questions. They were always answered quickly and thoughtfully.
character getting drunk out of his mind. I’ve had some experience with that.
But I’m not a baseball guy. I quickly immersed myself in the world of baseball
just so I knew the things I was supposed to know. I got half a dozen books on
baseball, started watching baseball movies and documentaries. I wanted to know
all the things I needed to know—what does a major league clubhouse look like,
what’s the life of a professional baseball player, etc. Along with this I
studied and discovered what Celebrate Recovery was all about. As I wrote, I asked
Carol a lot of questions. They were always answered quickly and thoughtfully.
#10. DELIVERY
My main priority was to write a
meaningful novel and deliver it on time. The great thing was I knew they were
allowing me a lot of creative license. I attempted the novel in first person
and then after about 15,000 words, I decided it couldn’t only be in the
baseball player’s POV. I tried some different things but stuck to the story of
the script. I simply expanded and enhanced it. Not because I was being lazy but
rather my job was to expand and enhance. I needed the novel to serve as a
literary companion to the movie. The movie was the boss—the movie informed all
the other storytelling decisions I might try to make.
meaningful novel and deliver it on time. The great thing was I knew they were
allowing me a lot of creative license. I attempted the novel in first person
and then after about 15,000 words, I decided it couldn’t only be in the
baseball player’s POV. I tried some different things but stuck to the story of
the script. I simply expanded and enhanced it. Not because I was being lazy but
rather my job was to expand and enhance. I needed the novel to serve as a
literary companion to the movie. The movie was the boss—the movie informed all
the other storytelling decisions I might try to make.
Thankfully, the publisher and
producers were thrilled with the novel. Even though the date of the movie
changed from fall 2012 to spring 2013, that didn’t impact the novel since it
was already finished. I felt that compressed time worked for the novel and how
it came to life.
producers were thrilled with the novel. Even though the date of the movie
changed from fall 2012 to spring 2013, that didn’t impact the novel since it
was already finished. I felt that compressed time worked for the novel and how
it came to life.
I’m going to write a longer blog
soon about how to write a novel based on a screenplay—some of the struggles and
some of the fun parts of that process. The best part of this process for Home
Run was all the support I’ve received, from
both the publisher and also from the Home Run team. I love the movie and the people behind it. I
hope and trust the movie and novel both perform well simply because of the
people behind them. I got invited to this cool party and it’s been fun to be a
part of it.
soon about how to write a novel based on a screenplay—some of the struggles and
some of the fun parts of that process. The best part of this process for Home
Run was all the support I’ve received, from
both the publisher and also from the Home Run team. I love the movie and the people behind it. I
hope and trust the movie and novel both perform well simply because of the
people behind them. I got invited to this cool party and it’s been fun to be a
part of it.
See Home Run when it opens April 19! And buy the novel when it
releases March 1. It’s a beautiful story of redemption and hope, a story that
can inspire anybody.
releases March 1. It’s a beautiful story of redemption and hope, a story that
can inspire anybody.
Thank you for sharing this process Travis. I saw you at the Summit at Saddleback last summer. I enjoy writing but have never submitted anything for publication beyond writing for local magazines and newsletters. I started a novel, got stuck and never finished. I enjoyed going through Julia Cameron's book on The Artist Within and looking at blocks to writing and releasing our creativity. You are such a prolific writer with a variety of subjects. I have really enjoyed reading your comments on Facebook for the past year and a half. You have done so well for such a young person. I can't wait to read your book about a well-known and beloved couple I know. Thank you for sharing and I will look forward to what you can share further about writing a novel based on a screenplay.
Thanks Jennifer. Faye–appreciate your comments. That project about the couple is coming along nicely! Can't wait for people to read that. 🙂
Congratulations on this, Travis! I'll look forward to the movie, and the novel. My husband is a huge baseball fan, so he might really enjoy this, too.
Interesting process – you always give such great advice.
GOD BLESS!