Would you like to see your book, short story, or article as a movie? For many authors this is a dream come true, but how does it happen? In this issue, we talk to screenwriters, directors, producers, filmmakers, script consultants, literary managers, film rights agents, and authors to cover every angle of the adaptation process. We also cover book trailer basics and how to format a screenplay… MORE >>

Let WOW! help you start and grow your freelance career! Premium-Green isn’t just markets listings, it’s a guide with community benefits. As a subscriber, each month you receive a 100+ ebook filled with articles not found elsewhere and markets for writers of every genre and profession: freelance gigs for editors, copywriters, ghostwriters, bloggers; fiction markets; anthology calls; magazine markets; writing contests; niche markets; and… MORE >>

The results are in! After careful deliberation our honorable guest judge, literary agent Elise Capron, has made her final decisions. Read the winning stories of the 750 words or less open prompt Winter ‘10 Flash Fiction Contest…MORE >>

Robin Swicord’s success as a Hollywood screenwriter came as a direct result of her dedication, perseverance and love for writing. She is most recognized in her field for her incredible screenplay adaptations of novels and short stories. Swicord took books like Little Women, Matilda, and The Jane Austen Book Club and transferred the imagery and essence of each story to the big screen. Her work on Memoirs of a Geisha won her a Satellite Award in 2005 for best adapted screenplay and her latest work, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, earned her an Oscar nomination. Kerrie Flanagan interviews Swicord about how she got started in screenwriting (over thirty years ago!), what the industry was like then, and the writing process behind her book to film adaptations… MORE >>

Is your book a movie? Most authors would like to see their work adapted for the big (or small) screen, but the path from here to there is, at best, unfamiliar—and can seem incomprehensible. Some best-sellers are made into movies; others ignored. Even obscure books, short stories, and magazine articles are blessed by Hollywood’s magic while thousands of screenplays are turned away. Harry Potter sells to Hollywood a mere year after publication while The Lord of the Rings takes nearly five decades to hit the screen. What sense does that make? Is there no rhyme or reason here? Well, yes, actually. But it’s hard to make out when—like most writers—you’re on the outside looking in. This article, written by John Marlow and Jacqueline Radley, will take you through the looking glass and make some sense of the enigma that is the Hollywood adaptation process. More importantly, it will explain why some books are made into movies while others are not; and what you can do to make your book (or story) more attractive to filmmakers… MORE >>

Back in the 80s, TV movies and miniseries were part of a network’s regular programming. Sydney Sheldon, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Danielle Steele, and Judith Krantz became household names as their novels of glamour and wealth were translated to the small screen. But then like every trend, TV movies and mini-series tapered off, and sitcoms rose to prominence. But with the recent productions of adaptations of novels by Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber and Patricia Cornwall, television movies, or telefilms, are finding new audiences through cable. So how can you get your book made into a telefilm? Mary Castillo chats with experts from the Hallmark Channel and Lifetime to find out how authors can tap into this market… MORE >>

Alexandra Sokoloff’s latest novel, The Unseen, touts that “the paranormal is real” by unfolding chilling fiction based on accounts of true supernatural experiments. It’s almost fitting that Alex’s own exciting life story seems unreal. She began directing plays at sixteen, and now adapts novels into screenplays for Fox and Sony. She is also the author of Screenwriting Tricks for Authors (and Screenwriters!). Exploring her background in novels and screenplays, Alex spent some time with Tara Lynne Brown discussing the unique struggles of film-to-novel adaptation versus novel-to-film projects and what barriers screenwriting imposes on writers, as well as the immense satisfaction and freedoms offered through novel writing… MORE >>

You thought you had a handle on reaching out to your audience. You’re blogging and social networking, but now there’s another item to add to your to-do list: a book trailer. Book trailers are one more step in the digital evolution of book promotion. And the last thing an author wants is to get stuck in the tar pit of outdated marketing ideas. With the exponential advances in technology, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but with a few basic tips, you’ll be able to create a book trailer that brings your story to life. Annette Fix walks authors through the process of creating their own book trailer. The article covers different types of book trailers you can choose from (and shows you examples), gives you tips on storyboarding and scripting, includes a checklist of dos and don’ts, and provides you with all the resources you need to create your masterpiece, as well as video hosting sites so you can broadcast your baby… MORE >>

Allison Winn Scotch is the New York Times best-selling author of The Department of Lost and Found and Time of My Life. Her third book, The One That I Want, hits the shelves in June. In a remarkable stroke of luck, Allison recently landed a deal that would have any writer green with envy—her novel, Time of My Life, is currently being developed into a film. Sara Hodon chats with Allison about her film project, option rights, her books, freelancing, and living the writing life… MORE >>

“Rules are meant to be broken” is an axiom often used by entrepreneurs, politicians, and fashionistas as justification for bending traditional practices to fit an alternative vision. Contrary to popular belief, however, being a nonconformist, when it comes to presentation, isn’t a smart course to follow if your product is a screenplay you’re hoping to sell. For every plot with a faint glimmer of originality and promise, there are just as many more that get rejected from the first page because their authors didn’t bother to learn proper formatting. Professional script consultant Christina Hamlett walks you though the process of formatting your screenplay and provides you with free Internet resources to help make the projects you submit to contests, agents, and prospective producers look as professional as possible… MORE >>

Do you enjoy short films? Discovering what will make a film the best it can be drives filmmaker Liliana Greenfield-Sanders to produce thought-provoking and intriguing movies. Whether it’s an edgy drama or a comedic glimpse at a serious subject, Greenfield-Sanders captures the attention of film enthusiasts. In this interview, conducted by LuAnn Schindler, Liliana shares her views on filmmaking, discusses the inspiration behind the name of her film company (Gluten Free Films), and talks shop about being a screenwriter, director, and editor… MORE >>

Going to a conference can be one of the best things you can do for your writing career. If you’re a beginner, you’re introduced to the “writing world”—people to network with that think like you and understand your struggles; access to editors, agents, and best-selling authors; and information on plotting, formatting, and submitting to take your writing to the next level. Margo L. Dill takes us on a visual journey to the annual Missouri Writers’ Guild conference where we discover what it’s like to attend workshops, pitch to agents, and network with other writers… MORE >>