How do I turn my book into a movie?

If readers keep telling you your book would make a great film, you're in good company. It's how many of the authors we work with start the conversation. And it's not an impossible dream: books are adapted for film and TV all the time, including plenty that started out self-published.

It rarely happens by sending a novel to a producer, though. The route that works goes roughly like this: decide whether your story suits film or TV, adapt it into a professionally formatted script, put together a short pitch, and get it in front of producers who might option the rights. The script is the step that opens doors, because scripts are what producers read.

This guide walks through each step as it works for UK self-published authors, with an honest view of what's involved, what it costs and how long it takes.

Step 1: Decide whether your book is a film or a TV series

Before anything else, work out what kind of screen story you have. It shapes every decision after this one.

• A film tells one clear story in roughly 90 to 120 minutes. It suits books with a tight central plot, a small core cast and a strong ending.
• A TV series gives a story room to breathe. It suits long or multi-book stories, large casts, several storylines, crime or mystery with a new case each episode, and memoirs and biographies that span many years.

Many books could go either way. Some authors are surprised to learn their 120,000-word historical saga would be squeezed by a two-hour film, but would make a natural six-part drama. If you're unsure, our guide on signs your novel would make a great film is a good place to start.

Step 2: Adapt your book into a screenplay

This is the step that matters most, and the one most authors underestimate.

A screenplay isn't your novel with the dialogue pulled out. It's a different form with its own rules. A feature film script runs to roughly 90 to 120 pages, at about one minute of screen time per page. Everything has to be shown, not told: a character's thoughts must become something we can see or hear. Subplots get cut, characters get merged, and timelines get simplified. The formatting follows strict industry conventions, and producers notice straight away when it doesn't.

INT. SARAH'S KITCHEN - MORNING

SARAH (35), still in her dressing gown, stares at the
letter in her trembling hands. The coffee mug crashes
to the floor.

                    SARAH
          This changes everything.

For TV, the equivalent is a pilot episode script and a series bible. The pilot is the first episode, and the script producers read first: it introduces the world, the main characters, the central story and the tone of the show. The series bible is the reference document for the whole series. It covers the characters and how they change, the rules of the world, and how your book's story plays out across episodes and seasons. You can read more on our book to TV series adaptation page.

Your three options for adapting your book

1. Write it yourself. It costs nothing but time, and you keep total creative control. The catch is the learning curve: screenwriting is a separate craft, and most novelists need several drafts before a script reads as professional. It's also hard to cut your own darlings. If you go this way, our 7 common adaptation mistakes will save you some pain.
2. Hire a freelance screenwriter. Quality and prices vary widely, so ask for samples of adaptations they've done, not just original scripts, and agree up front what's included and who owns what.
3. Use a specialist adaptation service. You get experienced adapters, a defined process and a clear price. At Tricorn Books, a full film conversion of a manuscript of up to 80,000 words costs £1,200 + VAT, with a first draft typically ready within two weeks. That includes a dedicated account manager and a professionally bound and printed copy. TV adaptations are quoted individually.

Whichever route you choose, you keep the rights to your story. Make sure any agreement with a writer or service says so in writing.

Step 3: Prepare your pitch

Producers are busy. Before they read 100 pages, they want to know in seconds whether your story is for them. Prepare three things:

• A logline: one sentence that captures the hook. Who is the main character, what do they want, and what stands in their way?
• A one-page synopsis of the screen story, not the book. It should reflect the changes made in adaptation.
• A short elevator pitch you can deliver out loud. See what an elevator pitch is and why your screenplay needs one.

Mention anything that shows existing interest: sales, reviews, awards, a loyal readership or media coverage. Producers like stories that already have an audience. That's one reason so many films started life as self-published novels.

Step 4: Get your script in front of the right people

This is where patience comes in. There's no single front door, but these routes work for UK authors:

• Independent production companies. Smaller UK producers are often more open to new writers than big studios, especially for stories that can be made on a sensible budget. Research companies that have made work like yours, and approach them with your logline and synopsis first.
• Screenwriting competitions and open calls. Broadcasters and organisations, including BBC Writersroom, periodically open their doors to unsolicited scripts. Placing in a recognised competition gives a script credibility.
• Agents. A literary or screen agent can get your work read by people you can't reach yourself, but agents are selective. A strong, professional script and pitch make you a far more attractive client.
• Industry events and festivals. Pitching events, festivals and networking sessions put you in the same room as producers. Film is a relationship business.
• Submission services. Some adaptation services, including ours, offer submission to agents and producers as an optional extra. We don't share our contact list itself, and we explain why we keep our industry contacts private.

Step 5: Understand options and film rights

If a producer is interested, they usually won't buy your book outright straight away. Instead they'll offer an option agreement: a fee for the exclusive right to develop your story for a set period, often between 18 months and three years, while they raise money and attach a director and cast. If the film or series goes ahead, they then pay a larger, pre-agreed purchase price for the rights.

A few things worth knowing:

• In the UK, copyright is automatic. You don't need to register your book or script to own it. Do keep dated copies of your drafts as a record.
• Option fees vary hugely and are negotiable. Many projects are optioned and never made, so think of an option as a promising start rather than a finish line.
• Get advice before you sign. A UK solicitor who specialises in publishing or entertainment law can check the terms. It's money well spent.

How long does it take, and what are the odds?

Honestly, getting a book made into a film or TV series takes time and some luck, and most adapted scripts are never produced. But the authors who succeed have one thing in common: they put a professional script in front of the right people and kept going. The adaptation itself can be quick. The route to production is measured in months and often years.

Not every author is chasing a deal, either. Some simply want to see their story as a script, to read, share and keep on the shelf. That's a perfectly good reason to adapt your book too.

Common questions

Can I send my novel straight to film producers?

You can, but most won't read it. Producers assess screen potential from scripts and pitches, and an unsolicited novel is easy to set aside. A screenplay shows them the film or series, not just the book.

How much does it cost to turn a book into a screenplay?

It depends on who adapts it. Doing it yourself costs only time, and freelancer rates vary widely. At Tricorn Books, a full film adaptation of a manuscript of up to 80,000 words is a fixed £1,200 + VAT. Longer books and TV adaptations are quoted individually.

Do I lose the rights to my book if I have it adapted?

No. Commissioning an adaptation doesn't transfer your rights. You'd only grant rights to a producer later, through an option or purchase agreement, on terms you agree.

Should my book be a film or a TV series?

Books with one tight central story usually suit film. Long, multi-stranded or multi-book stories, large casts and memoirs that span decades often suit TV. A good adapter will tell you honestly which fits your book.

Can I turn a memoir or biography into a film?

Yes. True stories are adapted all the time. The main extra consideration is real people: if your story features living people, think carefully about how they're portrayed and take advice where needed.

Find out what your book looks like as a script

If you think your book would make a good film or TV series, the quickest way to find out is to see it on the page. Send us your manuscript and we'll convert a chapter or scene of your choice into a screenplay, free of charge and with no obligation. It's a chance to see what's possible before you commit to anything.

Get in touch to claim your free sample, or read more about our novel to screenplay adaptation service.