Will your book make a great movie?
Every few months, an author reaches out to me with the same line:
"My book would make a great movie."
I appreciate the enthusiasm. I really do.
But almost every author thinks that.
And most books won’t make great movies, not because they’re poorly written or unworthy, but because a film adaptation is not just about the story. It’s about the audience.
The truth that many authors (and even some filmmakers) don’t realize is:
Books are a dime a dozen. Attention is not.
Hollywood, independent producers, and streamers are not short on good material. They’re short on audiences who can be counted on to show up. That’s why only a tiny fraction of books ever get optioned, and an even smaller fraction actually make it to the screen.
It’s not enough for a book to be “good.” It needs to matter on a bigger scale.
Here’s what matters:
• A large, passionate audience already in place.
• Major best-seller list status (NYT, USA Today, Amazon Top 100).
• A devoted following built through virality, awards, or cultural impact.
If the book doesn’t have a gravity field pulling people in, making a movie based on it is starting from zero. And in the film world, starting from zero is the most challenging road to travel.
Most newly released books, especially from new authors, have no track record. If the book didn’t build an audience, the movie probably wouldn’t either.
Well-established authors have the firepower to build buzz before a book’s release, just like major films. That’s the exception, not the rule.
A proven audience is the product-market fit filmmakers need to justify the time, money, and adaptation risk. Without it, it’s a long shot.
This doesn’t mean your book isn’t valuable. It means you must build an audience before the adaptation dream makes sense.
I’m sharing this not to discourage authors or indie filmmakers — quite the opposite.
I want to see more book-to-film adaptations succeed. But success starts with a clear understanding: You aren’t adapting a story; you’re adapting momentum.
If you’re an author dreaming of your book hitting the big screen, focus first on growing your audience. If you’re a filmmaker looking to adapt a book, choose one with a gravitational pull already baked in.
Otherwise, you’re building a rocket with no fuel.
And trust me: gravity always wins.
#BookToFilm #FilmAdaptation #IndependentFilm #FilmProduction #AuthorLife #Filmmaking #WritersCommunity #FilmmakersLife