Adapting a Novella into a Screenplay

This example demonstrates how Story Prism can help you adapt an existing novella into a screenplay format, even if the original story is incomplete in terms of a traditional screenplay structure.

Scenario: You have a novella and a list of scenes from the author, but the novella's structure doesn't fully align with a standard screenplay's three-act structure. You need to expand the story, develop characters, and create a complete screenplay outline.

Steps:

Initial Setup:

• Novella note: Create a new entry in your Notebook Memory and paste the entire text of the novella into it. Tag this entry appropriately (e.g., Novella, Source Material).

• Scene List note: Create another note and paste the author's scene list. Tag this note (e.g., Scene List, Original Outline).

Adding AI Assistant Personas:

• Select Chatbot Personas: From the available AI assistant personas (pre-defined prompt templates), add instances of the following to your Notebook:

  • An "Expert Screenwriter" persona for general screenwriting advice.

  • A "Meaning Maker" persona for deeper thematic analysis.

• Connect to Novella: Connect the "Novella" and "outline" note to each of these newly added chatbot personas. This tells the AI that these personas should focus on the content of the novella when you interact with them.

From there you can ask the assistant to help you understand the source material. As an example:

Understanding the Source Material:

• Summarization: Interact with the "Expert Screenwriter" persona (or a similar persona) and ask it to generate a concise summary of the novella. This helps you (and the AI) quickly grasp the core story elements.

• Prompt Assistant (Expert Screenwriter):

  Hey Expert Screenwriter. Please generate a concise summary of the novella provided in my "Novella Entry" note. Your summary should capture the core story elements—including the main plot, key characters, and underlying themes—in a clear and succinct manner to help me quickly grasp the essence of the narrative.

• Example Output:

  Certainly! Here's a concise summary of the novella based on the provided context:
  
  The novella revolves around the journey of a young protagonist, Alex, who embarks on a quest for self-discovery in a world where reality and imagination blur. Alex, a talented but disillusioned artist, struggles with the pressures of societal expectations and personal aspirations. The narrative unfolds as Alex encounters a series of enigmatic characters, each representing different facets of creativity and self-expression. These interactions challenge Alex's perceptions and push them towards a deeper understanding of their own identity and purpose.
  
  Key characters include a mysterious mentor figure who guides Alex through their artistic and personal dilemmas, and a rival artist who embodies the competitive nature of the creative world. The story explores themes of authenticity, the conflict between commercial success and artistic integrity, and the transformative power of art.
  
  Through vivid imagery and introspective dialogue, the novella delves into the complexities of finding one's voice in a world that often demands conformity, ultimately leading Alex to embrace their unique vision and redefine success on their own terms.

Deeper Analysis: Interact with the "Meaning Maker" persona to explore the themes, motifs, and underlying meaning of the novella.

• Prompt Assistant (Meaning maker):

  Hey Meaning Maker, please analyze the novella provided in my "Novella Entry" note. Focus on exploring the deeper themes, recurring motifs, and underlying symbolic elements of the story. Your analysis should examine how these aspects influence the narrative and contribute to character development, revealing the subtle, implicit meanings behind the text.

• Example Output:

  Certainly! Let's delve into the deeper themes, motifs, and symbolic elements of the novella:
  
  **Themes:**
  
  1. **Memory and Identity:** The novella explores the theme of memory as a fundamental aspect of identity. The city of Carroway, where people live without memories, symbolizes a loss of self and history. Eli, the caretaker of the Library, embodies the burden of memory, holding the collective past of the city. This theme is central to the narrative, as it questions what it means to truly live without the context of one's past.
  
  2. **The Power of Stories:** Stories are depicted as living entities within the Library, influencing and shaping the world. The narrative suggests that stories are not just entertainment but essential to understanding and connecting with the world. Mara's arrival and her questions challenge the status quo, highlighting the transformative power of stories to awaken and restore memory and identity.
  
  3. **Sacrifice and Choice:** Eli's role as the eternal caretaker is a sacrifice made for the city's peace. The novella examines the cost of such sacrifices and the choices that lead to them. Mara's decision to leave a message for Eli prompts a pivotal choice, leading to the liberation of the city's memories.

• Expanding the Story:

  • Identify Gaps: Analyze the existing story structure and identify where it needs expansion.

  • Prompt Assistant (Expert screenwriter):

  Hey Expert screenwriter, please analyze the existing structure of the novella as outlined in my "Novella Entry" and "Outline" notes. Identify any gaps or areas where the narrative appears incomplete or underdeveloped. Provide specific insights into which sections would benefit from further expansion, additional plot points, or enhanced character development, and suggest strategies to bridge these gaps.

  • Example Output:

    Certainly! Let's analyze the structure of the novella based on the outline and scene list to identify areas that might need further development:
    
    1. **Introduction and Setup:**
    - **Current Structure:** The novella begins with Alex's introduction as a disillusioned artist, setting the stage for their internal conflict.
    - **Potential Gaps:** The initial setup could benefit from a more vivid depiction of Alex's world and the specific pressures they face. This would help establish a stronger emotional connection with the reader.
    - **Suggestions:** Consider adding scenes that show Alex's interactions with family or peers who embody societal expectations, providing a clearer picture of the external pressures influencing Alex's journey.
    
    2. **Inciting Incident:**
    - **Current Structure:** Alex encounters a mysterious mentor who challenges their perceptions.
    - **Potential Gaps:** The mentor's introduction might feel abrupt without sufficient buildup.
    - **Suggestions:** Introduce subtle foreshadowing of the mentor's presence or influence earlier in the narrative. This could be through rumors, artwork, or dreams that hint at their significance.
    

• Brainstorm New Ideas: Create a new note for your own story ideas (tagged appropriately, e.g., New Ideas, Plot Expansion). Interact with the "Expert screenwriter" persona (or another relevant persona) to brainstorm new plot points, conflicts, and character interactions.

• Prompt Assistant (Expert screenwriter):

Hey Expert screenwriter, please brainstorm new plot points, conflicts, and character interactions to expand and enrich the narrative outlined in my "Novella Entry" and "Outline" notes. Focus on innovative ideas that introduce fresh challenges, deepen character relationships, and add complexity to the overall story structure, while staying true to the established themes and tone.

• Example Output:

  Absolutely, let's brainstorm some fresh plot points and character interactions to enrich the narrative:
  
  1. **New Plot Points:**
  
  - **A Hidden Past:** Introduce a subplot where Alex discovers a hidden aspect of their family history related to art. This could involve a relative who was a renowned artist but faced a tragic downfall, adding layers to Alex's internal conflict about pursuing art.
  
  - **The Mentor's Secret:** Reveal that the mysterious mentor has a personal stake in Alex's journey. Perhaps they see Alex as a chance to redeem their own past failures, adding complexity to their guidance and creating tension when their motives are questioned.
  
  - **Artistic Rivalry:** Introduce a rival artist who challenges Alex not just technically, but philosophically. This character could embody the commercial success Alex fears, forcing Alex to confront their own values and what they truly want from their art.
  
  2. **New Conflicts:**
  
  - **Internal Conflict:** Deepen Alex's internal struggle by introducing moments of doubt where they consider abandoning art altogether. This could be triggered by a significant failure or rejection, pushing Alex to the brink of giving up.

• Connect Ideas: Copy and paste any ideas you like into the new note and then connect your "New Ideas" note to the "Novella" note, the "Outline" note, and the relevant chatbot personas.

• Character Development:

  • Character Ambitions: Create new notes for the main characters (tagged with their roles, e.g., Protagonist, Antagonist). Interact with the AI personas (perhaps adding a "Character Development Expert" persona) to explore their ambitions, motivations, and backstories.

  *optional* Create a Character Development Expert

  • Example Prompt: "Act as a Character Development Expert specializing in crafting deep and relatable characters. Your expertise is in creating complex character arcs, defining clear motivations, and integrating detailed backstories that enrich the narrative. Provide guidance on developing multidimensional characters whose evolution and interactions enhance the overall story, ensuring they resonate authentically with the audience."

  • Tag: chatbot persona

Connect Characters: Connect the character notes to the "Character development expert" note.

• Prompt Assistant (Character development expert):

  Hey Character Development Expert, please brainstorm creative ideas for my characters. Focus on generating fresh, imaginative suggestions for each character’s ambitions, motivations, and backstories. Provide multiple innovative ideas that can enrich their narrative arcs and add depth to the overall story.

• Example Output:

  Certainly! Let's explore some creative ideas to enrich the characters' narrative arcs:
  
  1. **Alex - The Protagonist:**
  
  - **Ambitions:** Alex dreams of creating art that transcends traditional boundaries, aiming to evoke deep emotional responses and challenge societal norms. They aspire to hold an exhibition that not only showcases their work but also invites viewers to participate in the creative process.
  
  - **Motivations:** Alex is driven by a desire to find authenticity in a world that often values commercial success over artistic integrity. This motivation is fueled by a personal need to prove their worth beyond societal expectations.
  
  - **Backstory:** Alex grew up in a family that prioritized practicality over creativity. A pivotal moment in their childhood was discovering a hidden attic filled with their grandmother's forgotten paintings, sparking their passion for art and a connection to a lineage of unfulfilled artistic potential.
  
  2. **The Mysterious Mentor:**
  
  - **Ambitions:** The mentor seeks redemption for past failures in their own artistic career. They aim to guide Alex to avoid the same pitfalls, hoping to see Alex achieve the success they never could.

• Creating a Screenplay Outline ("One Sheet"):

  • Consolidate Information: Use the AI assistants, along with all your notes and connections, to create a comprehensive outline or "one-sheet" for the screenplay. You could potentially use a dedicated prompt template for this, or interact with one of your writing-focused personas.

    • New Entry for Outline: Create a new entry for your screenplay outline.

• Refining the Scene List:

  • Revise Beats: Based on the expanded story and character development, revise the original scene list, adding new scenes as needed. Create new entries for each new scene.

  • Connect Scenes: Connect the scene entries to the "Screenplay Outline" entry and to the relevant character and chatbot persona entries.

• Writing the Screenplay With your detailed plan, and helpful AI, begin writing!