Shirley Goldberg
asked
Susan Mac Nicol:
Do you think visually when you begin a novel? How does screenwriting help you as a novelist? This is fascinating.
Susan Mac Nicol
Hi Shirley, lovely to hear from you.
I've always thought visually from childhood, and find it helps in business too. You imagine the scene in your head then convert that to words. Screenwriting helps a novelist to ensure every word they use has a use. Rather than ramble on, you're able to be concise and not waste words. Writing a novel, where you have to use words to conjure up an image and emotion of a scene, is harder than writing a line or two for scene direction. They are very different disciplines :)
I've always thought visually from childhood, and find it helps in business too. You imagine the scene in your head then convert that to words. Screenwriting helps a novelist to ensure every word they use has a use. Rather than ramble on, you're able to be concise and not waste words. Writing a novel, where you have to use words to conjure up an image and emotion of a scene, is harder than writing a line or two for scene direction. They are very different disciplines :)
More Answered Questions
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more