Comments on: How to Make Your Novel into a Media Franchise http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/02/how-to-make-your-novel-into-a-media-franchise/ about the craft and business of genre fiction Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:45:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Nienke http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/02/how-to-make-your-novel-into-a-media-franchise/comment-page-1/#comment-17355 Nienke Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:28:47 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/02/how-to-make-your-novel-into-a-media-franchise/#comment-17355 Hi Eric! Imagine running into you here! I believe a well-crafted story should contain most of the items on your list, perhaps with the exception of adaptive memes. As you recommend, I would bring in your list during rewriting as another way to make sure I have as many elements of a good story as a I can. I look forward to next week's post! Hi Eric! Imagine running into you here!
I believe a well-crafted story should contain most of the items on your list, perhaps with the exception of adaptive memes.
As you recommend, I would bring in your list during rewriting as another way to make sure I have as many elements of a good story as a I can.
I look forward to next week’s post!

]]> By: Eric http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/02/how-to-make-your-novel-into-a-media-franchise/comment-page-1/#comment-16912 Eric Fri, 03 Aug 2007 02:14:35 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/02/how-to-make-your-novel-into-a-media-franchise/#comment-16912 Kathleen, Lara Croft started in the game industry, and games have always had a rough go adapting to other mediums. But seeing as she's the female Indiana Jones of sorts, you could count her. But you're right, not a huge success outside of games. There is definitely a 'position' open for female action hero. Somebody get crackin' on that one! :) Kathleen, Lara Croft started in the game industry, and games have always had a rough go adapting to other mediums. But seeing as she’s the female Indiana Jones of sorts, you could count her.

But you’re right, not a huge success outside of games.

There is definitely a ‘position’ open for female action hero. Somebody get crackin’ on that one! :)

]]> By: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/02/how-to-make-your-novel-into-a-media-franchise/comment-page-1/#comment-16899 Kathleen Bolton Thu, 02 Aug 2007 23:05:20 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/02/how-to-make-your-novel-into-a-media-franchise/#comment-16899 I think the most important element of a successful franchise is to have a character(or characters) who people simply want to know more about. Hmm, now that I look at the list, I wonder if there any big female character franchises out there. Lara Croft? I think she kinda fizzled. Anne of Green Gables? One big franchise that's flying under the radar is Disney's High School Musical juggernaut. Anyone who has kids between the ages of 8-14 know what I'm talking about. ;-) I think the most important element of a successful franchise is to have a character(or characters) who people simply want to know more about. Hmm, now that I look at the list, I wonder if there any big female character franchises out there. Lara Croft? I think she kinda fizzled. Anne of Green Gables?

One big franchise that’s flying under the radar is Disney’s High School Musical juggernaut. Anyone who has kids between the ages of 8-14 know what I’m talking about. ;-)

]]> By: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/02/how-to-make-your-novel-into-a-media-franchise/comment-page-1/#comment-16886 Therese Walsh Thu, 02 Aug 2007 19:08:51 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/02/how-to-make-your-novel-into-a-media-franchise/#comment-16886 An intriguing thesis, Eric! I look forward to next week's post. An intriguing thesis, Eric! I look forward to next week’s post.

]]> By: Dan http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/02/how-to-make-your-novel-into-a-media-franchise/comment-page-1/#comment-16874 Dan Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:21:20 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/02/how-to-make-your-novel-into-a-media-franchise/#comment-16874 Media franchise can be planned, but not guaranteed. Look at the number of recent comic book-to-movie translations that fit many or all of the guidelines above, but don't always even make back the cost of production. Lucas, for example, directed a low-budget, B-movie in Star Wars. The "Episode IV" title in the lead-in wasn't added until later editions, and the original sequel was "Splinter of the Mind's Eye" published in novel form in 1978 (with a very different story development and settings that easily translate to low-budget production). Once Star Wars was a big hit, however, Lucas co-opted the catchy title as the name of the franchise and retitled the move "Episode IV: A New Hope". Media franchise can be planned, but not guaranteed. Look at the number of recent comic book-to-movie translations that fit many or all of the guidelines above, but don’t always even make back the cost of production. Lucas, for example, directed a low-budget, B-movie in Star Wars. The “Episode IV” title in the lead-in wasn’t added until later editions, and the original sequel was “Splinter of the Mind’s Eye” published in novel form in 1978 (with a very different story development and settings that easily translate to low-budget production). Once Star Wars was a big hit, however, Lucas co-opted the catchy title as the name of the franchise and retitled the move “Episode IV: A New Hope”.

]]> By: Eric http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/02/how-to-make-your-novel-into-a-media-franchise/comment-page-1/#comment-16873 Eric Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:00:04 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/02/how-to-make-your-novel-into-a-media-franchise/#comment-16873 I don't think any of them anticipated their success. But if you look at all the big franchises like James Bond, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Star Wars -- they all have features in common. The fact you can find common features among the most popular franchises, at least in the abstract, means that someone could set about constructing a media franchise upon the same principles. There are no guarantees, but I truly believe you can stack some more odds in your favor if you find the underlying principles behind the most successful franchises. I talk a bit more about that in part two. I don’t think any of them anticipated their success. But if you look at all the big franchises like James Bond, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Star Wars — they all have features in common.

The fact you can find common features among the most popular franchises, at least in the abstract, means that someone could set about constructing a media franchise upon the same principles.

There are no guarantees, but I truly believe you can stack some more odds in your favor if you find the underlying principles behind the most successful franchises. I talk a bit more about that in part two.

]]> By: theamcginnis http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/02/how-to-make-your-novel-into-a-media-franchise/comment-page-1/#comment-16870 theamcginnis Thu, 02 Aug 2007 15:19:00 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/08/02/how-to-make-your-novel-into-a-media-franchise/#comment-16870 great article - why not think BIG in terms of your work? i wonder, though, how much most of the successful writers planned for in terms of creating a successful media franchise, or it just happened and they adjusted to it (like jkr's harry potter series)? is such a phenomeon something you can really plan for? great article – why not think BIG in terms of your work? i wonder, though, how much most of the successful writers planned for in terms of creating a successful media franchise, or it just happened and they adjusted to it (like jkr’s harry potter series)? is such a phenomeon something you can really plan for?

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