The Bone Traders - Is your screenplay collecting coffee stains?

Is your script collecting coffee stains?

You wrote it. You followed the rules and got it "out there". It was read. It was passed over, it was optioned, it went amber but never green. Now it sits gathering coffee stains and dust, but you know it is a good story -- it has a beginning, a middle, and an end. The characters are there, so's the plot, the twist, descriptions and dialogue. But it gathers coffee stains.

Have you realised you have more on the page than most authors have when setting out to write their novel?

Think about the Hell you endured just getting the script to a 100 pages, or perhaps more. You have succeeded more than most. 

So why let it gather dust?
Consider the self-publishing route. You are pretty much in charge from phase one and no expenses incurred -- other than your time which, I know, does cost money! But at least your work is getting out there and, all going according to plan, being read.
Will this benefit your screenplay? I'm suggesting it will in the long run. Delivering a screenplay and a novel adaptation may stir up some producer interest. Especially if you've had a few good reviews. Let's call it a two pronged attack.
Have I benefited from the process? I feel better by being pro-active and knowing that a few folk out there are reading. Financially? Not yet...and seriously doubt the dollars will pour in. Early days.
So where to start:

FINAL DRAFT TO WORD:

Get ready for formatting hell -- download your Final Draft version into a Word document. It's going to look a right mess, but fear not. If you screenplay was running at 100 pages, you should be looking at round about 25 000 words...the aim, so I learnt, for novella size, is between that and 30 000. So where's the other 5000 words? You have some writing ahead of you...that can't be denied. 

Read your first 30 pages as they are -- don't delete dialogue, characters or even transitions  Just read it as if you were reading a novel.
Please feel free to fire questions and comments!!!!

(to be continued)

I've added a few links below that may peak your interest:

A quick How To
Building your Kindle book