From Book to Screen with Jean Hanff Korelitz
Jean Hanff Korelitz knows how to take a story from book to screen. By both working closely with producers but also understanding that adapted stories will be inherently different, she has learned to give up a level of creative control in order to create a show or film that is just as good as the book. Jean has published six novels since she entered the industry in 1996, two of which garnered considerable attention from screenwriters: Admission (2009) was adapted for a film starring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd and You Should Have Known (2014) was adapted for a limited series on HBO by David E. Kelley. She even personally adapted James Joyce’s The Dead, 1904 into a theatrical production. Her most recent novel, The Plot, is available for preorder now.
From Amazon.com:
Jean Hanff Korelitz is the author of the novels YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN (adapted for HBO as “The Undoing” by David E. Kelley, and starring Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant and Donald Sutherland), ADMISSION (adapted as the 2013 film starring Tina Fey), THE DEVIL AND WEBSTER, THE WHITE ROSE, THE SABBATHDAY RIVER and A JURY OF HER PEERS. A new novel, THE PLOT, will be published on May 11th 2021. Her company BOOKTHEWRITER hosts “Pop-Up Book Groups” in NYC, where small groups of readers can discuss new books with their authors. www.bookthewriter.com
Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business – editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.
Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- The worst film Jean has ever seen
- How she grew comfortable with film adaptations
- The risks of adapting your own work
- Why writers are “never safe”
- Marketing techniques for new books
- Why the pandemic has been a good time for publishing
Links:
J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/
J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/
Zach Bohannon – https://zachbohannon.com/
Jean Hanff Korelitz – https://www.jeanhanffkorelitz.com/
Admission – https://mybook.to/Admission
The Plot – https://mybook.to/ThePlotBook
Story Rubric – http://storyrubric.com
Nonfict Rubric – http://nonficrubric.com
The Career Author Summit 2021 – https://thecareerauthor.com/summit2021/
Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life – https://kobowritinglife.com/
Music by Nicorus – https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep
Voice Over by Rick Ganley – http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio – http://www.millpondstudio.com
Contact – https://writersinkpodcast.com/dev/contact/
*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.
Christopher Wills
4 years ago
Great interview. I love the plot of the plot; or is it the plot of the plot of the plot?
But can you steal a plot? I have heard often from people that they have a ‘great idea for a story’ but they are not going to tell me in case I steal it from them.
Like that newbie guy, Zach, I have far more ideas than I could possibly write in my lifetime. Almost everything I watch on TV and everything I read, generates a few ideas for me because I usually think, ‘why didn’t the writer…?’ Maybe I am that arrogant student in that failed writer’s MFA class. 🙂
Definitely going to read ‘The Plot’ when it comes out.
Great show today.
J. Thorn
4 years ago
Thanks, Chris. I totally agree. I’m never short on ideas 😉
Kim
4 years ago
From what she said, I think the book she was reading and held up was Circe by Madeline Miller.
J.D. Barker
4 years ago
It was. I talked to her yesterday.