Big News for Headcase!

Here's the big news: Headcase: Shock & Denial is potentially heading to television! A screenwriter discovered our beloved story and agrees the story should be on screen!

Greetings from a frigid New York winter! While I'm usually writing from sunny Barbados this time of year, the Universe seems to have other plans – keeping me indoors during the coldest winter in five years and focused on an incredibly exciting new development I can't wait to share with you.

Here's the big news: Headcase: Shock & Denial is potentially heading to television! A screenwriter discovered our beloved story and saw what many of you have been telling me – that Dr. Andrew Beck is a unique character who deserves to be on screen. And here's the fascinating part: we're going full circle. What many of you don't know is that the Headcase saga actually began as an award-winning screenplay back in 2018, before the pandemic transformed it into the novel you know and love.

I always say a bad day writing is better than a good day as a CFO, but writing is not easy. To become a better writer, I’ve spent many of the last five years trying to reprogram my brain from a lifetime of results-focused ambition to process-oriented enjoyment.

Part of my pitch deck to producers

My awards page in my producer pitch deck

Accepting my Best Screenplay Award at SEIFF in England

In my former CFO life, I could bang on a spreadsheet for 12 hours and force myself to do endless analysis, but creativity doesn’t work like that. Writing, storytelling, and world-building are all about the process. Creativity cannot be demanded or forced; it does not care about my timelines, page count goals, and desires.

Creativity only cares about art. About technique and process. And whenever I force it, I write utter crap. When I can sit and wait, enjoy, and immerse for the pure sake of writing, my best work comes out.

When I wrote Shock & Denial, I had unlimited page count. If you recall, I extended the original version by another 100 pages to 500 in April 2024. However, with screenwriting, there are standards and expectations. The standard format is that one script page is about a minute of screen time. So, for the most part, directors and showrunners want to see a script for an hour-long show that goes no more than 65 pages. After putting the first seven chapters of Shock & Denial into a screenwriting format, I’m at a budget-busting, garbage can-filling, director-rejecting 105 pages!

Here is an example of the same scene, one in novel format and one in screenwriting.

As you can see, I have to cover more ground visually and have less page space. I have 40 pages of cuts coming, which means I might lose some scenes, too. As we say in writing, when we need to have a ruthless eye towards editing, “Gotta go kill my darlings.” Every scene must earn its place by moving the story forward or building tension, or it’s gone!

Let me take you behind the scenes of this creative adventure. Over the next few months, I'll take you inside the world of screenwriting, share insights about the adaptation process, and keep you updated as we navigate the exciting (and sometimes nerve-wracking) world of studio pitches.

To my loyal The Inevitable readers, I hear you and appreciate your patience. This detour isn't about stepping away from The Inevitable; it's about expanding our storytelling universe. I am deeply grateful for your support through your comments, book purchases, and Writing Fiction On The Beach subscriptions.

I'll be sending monthly updates about our progress, complete with behind-the-scenes looks at:

• The adaptation process

• Script development challenges and victories

• The journey of pitching to studios

• The fascinating world of television production

Have questions? Curious about something specific? Want to share your thoughts? I'd love to hear from you! Your engagement and excitement make this journey even more meaningful.

Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this exciting new chapter together. The possibility of seeing our beloved characters come to life on screen is becoming real, and I can't think of a better group to share this adventure with.

Warmest regards from my writing bunker in frozen New York,

Chris K. Jones

P.S. If you know fellow readers or TV enthusiasts who might enjoy this behind-the-scenes journey, please share this newsletter with them. The more people we have along for this ride, the more fun it will be!