How to Adapt a Book Into a Film or Series

Learn from a top book to screen adaptation executive

Get a breakdown of Liane Moriarty's novel BIG LITTLE LIES which was adapted to the Emmy-winning series starring Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon!

A good book takes the reader to another world. A good film or series does the same. Today, it’s not unusual to turn on the tube and take in films like THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW, WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, and BLACKkKLANSMAN, or series like OUTLANDER, THE HANDMAID’S TALE, and MINDHUNTER, all of which are based on fiction and non-fiction books. Writers of all levels are seeing the potential with adapting a good story from the pages of a book. However, not knowing exactly how to go about structuring the story or what elements to highlight and pull from a novel could be a proverbial brick wall for some. But it doesn’t have to be. 

A large part of the battle for many creatives is determining whether or not a book or article is worthy of adaptation. Once that determination is made, deciding what part of the story is high concept and what isn’t is also a challenge for some. Understanding the writing process when it comes to novel adaptation is a crucial (and often overlooked) step in developing your story.

Liz Sczudlo is an experienced TV and film writer who is often hired by networks and studios like the CW, Hulu, Lifetime, Hallmark and more to adapt popular novels for the screen. Some of the novels she has adapted include#1 New York Times Bestseller THE DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD, THE ARCHIVED by bestselling novelist V.E. Schwab, Aimee Friedman's SEA CHANGE, and Dani Cubides' MI HERMANASTRO. A seasoned television writer and producer, Liz has  written for shows like CW's JANE THE VIRGIN, FOX's THE FOLLOWING starring Kevin Bacon, ABC Family's SWITCHED AT BIRTH, MTV's AWKWARD and CW's 90210. In addition to developing her own pilots for Hulu, TBS, CW, CBS and Village Roadshow, Liz is currently serving as writer and co-executive producer for the CW's reboot of DYNASTY, where she helps run the room. Liz's deep experience with writing and adapting has given her unique skills and understanding of the novel adaptation process, and she's excited to bring what she knows exclusively to the Stage 32 community.

In this exclusive Stage 32 on-demand webinar, Liz will take you through the process of adapting a book for a film or series from start to finish. From learning how to determine what types of IP to adapt to organizing ideas and materials, Liz will help you boil down your concept so you can get started. What’s more, she’ll dig into how you should best develop the story world, the importance of building strong characters, and how to choose the most notable moments to give your story momentum. Tips on how to reach out to the author are also part of this information-packed webinar.

Liz will even offer a case study of HBO's adaptation of Liane Moriarty's novel BIG LITTLE LIES, breaking down the choices that were made to turn the popular book into the wildly successful series that it became starring Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon.

Praise for Liz's Stage 32 Education

"As a published author, this webinar was immensely valuable to help me turn my book into a film. There is so much nuance to adaptation that I could not have imagined without Liz's guidance. Thank you, Stage 32!" -- Rob M.

"One of the best courses I've taken!" -- Natalie R.

"Liz knows her stuff! For anyone who is trying to making a show or movie out of a book, this course is IMMENSELY beneficial and will enable you to do the work with efficiency and ease." -- Jon Z.