I'm not sure what percentage of novelists also consider themselves screenplay writers, or vice-versa, but I really have to consider myself both, as completely different as the two formats are.  While novels rely on narration and internal dialog with which to move forward a story, screenplays must rely solely on what can be perceived through a camera's eye.  Both present an equal number of challenges, especially when it comes to converting one format to the other, but both are also so wonderfully rewarding to write.

Speaking of format conversion: I recently took on the challenge of converting my most recent novel, The Darkness and the Night, into a screenplay, and I have a whole new level of respect for people who do that type of work for a living.  The hurdles that present can be more complicated than one might think: What to cut?  What to add?  How to stay true to the story, given the constraints in time and media?  I am happy with the draft, but I do have to say that I very nearly went insane in the week it took me to get it done.  I set out to convert The Last Great Minds of 2084 in the past, but set it down to start other projects ... I have no doubt in my mind that, after The Darkness and the Night, The Last Great Minds of 2084 will be a piece of cake....

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