Online for Authors Episode 9-7-24

​Behind the Scenes: Writing Lessons Learned in the Film Industry with Author Van Haney

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Van Haney, author of the books Stories to Curl Your Toes and Bloody Ever After. Today, Van is here to talk to us about her early career in film, how that shaped her writing, and writing tips she’s learned along the way.

​Vanessa grew up in the new-age circus known as the entertainment industry. She was first published in an anthology of poems in 1997. In the early 2000's she was showcased in young filmmaker competitions for her screenplays, and in 2018 while getting her Master's in Education she self-published her first book of short stories, Stories to Curl Your Toes. Now after two children and a move to the Pacific Northwest she's unleashing her stories into the world once again.

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I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Van Haney, author of the horror collections Stories to Curl Your Toes and Bloody Ever After, on my podcast Online for Authors. While Van is now a novelist, she actually grew up in the film industry and started her creative career as a screenwriter.

During our conversation, Van shared some fascinating insights into how her background in film has shaped her approach to writing fiction. Here are five key takeaways that I think any writer can learn from, whether you aspire to write horror, sci-fi, romance, or anything in between:

1. Dialogue is king. In screenwriting, everything hinges on the visual and the dialogue. As a novelist, Van still relies heavily on dialogue to push the story forward and reveal character. Studying how people really talk can help make your dialogue sparkle.
2. Visualize it like a movie. With her film background, Van sees the story play out in her head as she writes, like she's watching a movie. Tapping into that visual imagination can help bring your scenes to life on the page.
3. Keep the story moving. Films are all about action and momentum. Van tries to maintain that sense of pace in her fiction too, always considering "What happens next?" to propel the plot.
4. Know your genre tropes. Every genre comes with certain expectations and conventions. Being aware of the common tropes in your genre, whether from books or films, can help you meet or subvert those expectations in interesting ways.
5. Read widely for fresh ideas. While it's important to read in your genre, Van also recommends reading and watching broadly. You never know where you might find inspiration to put a fresh twist on a tried-and-true story.

If you want to hear more of Van's insights on the writing process, the horror genre, or her spooky ghost story side gig on TikTok, check out the full conversation on Online for Authors. And if you're a horror fan, keep an eye out for Van's chilling new novel Safest in the Light, following a party girl impregnated with a monstrous hybrid baby, coming this October – just in time for Halloween reading!

I'd love to know: Have you ever applied screenwriting concepts to your fiction? Or do you have a favorite book that would make a great film? Comment and let me know!

P.S. Want a chance to win a digital copy of Van's upcoming release Safest in the Light? Head over to my Novels and Latte Book Club on Facebook and join the conversation for a chance to be selected as an advance reader!

Purchase Bloody Ever After on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3AaFd7L
Ebook: https://amzn.to/4duDsAx
Audio: https://amzn.to/4fzQKxJ

Purchase Stories to Curl Your Toes on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/46uh0FD
Ebook: https://amzn.to/4cbUbHO
Audio: https://amzn.to/3SAaszx

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.