Sometimes, we might feel negative when people say that they prefer movies or television over reading a book. Take heart, however, in the fact that almost every movie was a script at some point, and where there is a script, there is a writer. Or 51 writers in the case of “50 Kisses.”

Even better, many of these scripts are based on novels. More than people know.

Here’s a look at some successful movies that people don’t often realize are based on classic novels.

“Clueless” – This is a teen classic, based on a classic novel. Here, Jane Austen’s “Emma” is transposed from 19^th-Century England to 1990s Beverly Hills.

“10 Things I Hate About You” – There are clues in this movie that nod to the fact that it is based on a Shakespearian play. This movie is, in fact, “Taming of the Shrew.”

The heroine’s name is Katarina Stratford (see what they did there?) and the name of the school is Padua High School. Padua is the name of the Italian City in which the play takes place.

“Bridget Jones’ Diary” – Here’s an easy one for most people. The references to Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” are clear with an arrogant character named Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth, who played Mr. Darcy in the BBC TV series. If you’ve seen the movie and read the book, you’ll know that the similarities don’t end there.

“O” – Although it’s only one letter, a clue is in the title. Other clues are the themes of jealousy and power.

Although this tale plays out with a basketball player in a US High School, the story of Shakespeare’s “Othello” shines through.

“O Brother Where Art Thou” – Ulysses Everett McGill is a man trying to get home to a woman named Penny and facing massive obstacles along the way.

His story is much like that of Odysseus striving to return to Penelope in Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey.”

This Coen Brothers movie even features sirens, a flood, and characters being turned into animals.

Why make modern movies based on the classics? A classic story is timeless, but that isn’t to say it can’t be updated or transformed. A classic story has a message that is as relevant now as it was when it was written.

Pay extra attention to your themes when writing. Your effort could serve you now and in the future!

How do you edit a manuscript so it’s ready to go? 

This is the first blog in our Manuscript Critique series. Our aim is to give you the tools to edit and critique manuscripts more effectively, whether you are a critique partner, a member of a critique group, or working on your own manuscripts.

A frequent writer’s complaint is editors no longer edit. That’s not 100% true in our experience. We acknowledge, however, many editors can’t devote the time it takes to make an early draft ready for publication. Editors tell us they want manuscripts that are “ready to go.”

An editor can improve your work, but don’t rely on him or her to fix basic mistakes. Here are 5 editing and critiquing tips to help you make the content of your manuscript as close to being ready for publication-as possible:

1. Spare us the weather reports. 

Describing the weather might be a safe way to make conversation with a stranger, but it doesn’t make for an engaging read. If the weather matters, you should describe it quickly and move on.

2. Focus on details that add realism like nothing else.

Not: The subway station was shabby.

But: Near the edge of the platform, a man with knotted hair held out a Dixie cup to no one in particular.

3. Don’t describe what doesn’t need describing. 

We all know what certain things look like. Describe an object only if it differs from what we’d expect.

4. Think of walk-on characters as furniture.

A walk-on character might be a cab driver, a waiter, or a bank teller. They might help move the story forward, but probably don’t appear again or have any real weight in the book. Keep up storytelling momentum by omitting their descriptions. Walk-on characters almost never need describing.

5. Use the five senses when you can, though not all at once.

Characters don’t just see and hear; they feel, smell, and taste, too. Using all five senses will give your story realism and will help your readers lose themselves in your book. Be careful not to overdo it, though, which can lead to the opposite effect, creating something that reads more like a writing exercise than a finished book.

Working with an editor provides writers with an opportunity to take their work to a higher level by addressing structural and thematic issues, as well as making the writing more engaging. To make the most of an editor’s limited time, use these tips to help make your manuscript the best it can be for submission.