From Book to Screen: Optioning your Writing with Jack El-Hai

Freelance Writing Direct

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From Book to Screen: Optioning your Writing with Jack El-Hai

Estelle Erasmus

Oct 13, 2022

In this episode, Sherry Paprocki and Estelle Erasmus speak with Jack El-Hai, the author of 14 books. Jack writes nonfiction books, longform narratives, podcasts, and the free monthly Damn History newsletter for writers and readers of popular history. He covers history, medicine, science, crime, and anything else that hooks him and he thinks will also hook his audience.

Jack also helps physicians learn how to use creative writing to avoid stress and burnout, connect with their patients, enjoy the pleasure of creation, and enjoy the satisfaction of publishing their work.

In addition to his newest book The Lost Brothers, he has written The Nazi and the Psychiatrist, Non-Stop: A Turbulent History of Northwest Airlines, and The Lobotomist: A Maverick Medical Genius and His Tragic Quest to Rid the World of Mental Illness. His articles have appeared in Smithsonian, The Atlantic, GQ, Wired, Scientific American Mind, Topic, Longreads, The Washington Post Magazine, and many other publications.

Several of Jack’s nonfiction stories have been optioned for the screen and stage. He frequently gives talks and leads workshops on the topics of his books as well as on the craft of nonfiction writing and the benefits of creative writing for physicians.

This episode covers:

How Jack went from writing freelance articles to tackling writing books.
How Jack has sold his stories for adaptation.
Signing options and understanding option fees.
4 tips for how a writer can get involved in options and movies

Website: https://www.el-hai.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jack_ElHai

Send us an email: freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com

Connect with Estelle:

Website: https://estelleserasmus.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSErasmus

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@estelleserasmus

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/estelle.sobel.erasmus/

Connect with Sherry:

Website: https://sherrybeckpaprocki.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paprockisherry/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherry.paprocki

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherrypaprocki

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Freelance Writing Direct

Welcome to the Freelance Writing Direct podcast.

Join Estelle Erasmus every week as she shares short, sound bite-filled podcasts, covering everything that the creative writer, freelance writer, and author needs to know to move forward in their creativity and career.

Estelle will share how the sauce is made, with tips and tricks to give you a leg up in the marketplace. The podcast will also feature interviews with authors and writers who are generous with their own advice.

Throughout the episodes, Estelle will evolve with the audience, as she listens to her guests, share pitches and essays, and offer writing and career prompts.

It’s time to build your craft with Freelance Writing Direct.

Estelle can’t wait to read what you will be writing.

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