About Quote by David Nicholls
“Screenwriting is always about what people say or do, whereas good writing is about a thought process or an abstract image or an internal monologue, none of which works on screen.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Screenwriting Secrets, 2021
Screenwriting focuses on external actions, while deeper internal thoughts rarely translate directly to film.
In simple terms: Screenplay shows actions, not inner monologue.
Key Takeaway
Find visual ways to convey inner thoughts.
Themes
screenwriting
visual storytelling
internal narrative
Mood
analytical
creative
Type
instructional
philosophical
When to use this quote
- film scripts
- theatrical plays
Key Concepts
cinematography
character development
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you show inner conflict visually?
- What techniques preserve nuance on screen?
A Different Perspective
Some stories may lose depth when visualized.
![“["Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas"] is a very hard book to translate to film because there's so much interior monologue. The what if factor. I tried to write it cinematically and let the dialogue carry it but I forgot about the interior monologue. It's kind of hard to show what's going on in the…” quote by Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/398/hunter-s-thompson-278_book_fear-loathing-in-las-vegas-is-a-very-har_780146.jpg)
