> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.glowstorytelling.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # It pays to write short fiction - URL: https://www.glowstorytelling.com/short-fiction-adaptation/ - Published: 2026-01-09T19:46:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-13T02:51:14.000Z - Description: Yes, your 7,000 word story could be worth 7 figures! - Author: Dani Fankhauser - Tags: intuitive writing ### Have you heard about the short story to film adaptation pipeline? As someone who regularly writes short stories to “audition” ideas for a novel, and visualizes the film adaptation as I write, I feel *way* late to the conversation that the film industry is buying short stories to turn into films … for $1 million and up. Yes, your 7,000 word story could be worth 7 figures! Here are a few recent headlines: [Skydance Pays $2 Million+ For Sci-Fi Short Story ‘Drift:’](https://deadline.com/2025/05/skydance-andy-muschietti-sci-fi-auction-drift-space-hostage-film-1236393620/?ref=glowstorytelling.com) [Sony Pictures Lands Jonathan Marty Sci-Fi Short Story ‘The Earthling’ Auction](https://deadline.com/2025/09/sony-pictures-short-story-the-earthling-movie-final-destination-duo-zach-lipovsky-adam-stein-direct-1236507667/?ref=glowstorytelling.com) (mid-6 figures) [Joe Russo & Chris LaMont Developing Horror Thriller ‘When A Stranger Venmos’ Based On Viral Short Story By Holly Riordan](https://deadline.com/2026/01/when-a-stranger-venmos-movie-joe-russo-chris-lamont-in-works-1236677635/?ref=glowstorytelling.com) [Amazon MGM Lands Harrison Query’s Short Story “Code Black” For Film](https://deadline.com/2025/06/code-black-jake-gyllenhaal-harrison-query-amazon-mgm-studios-1236434852/?ref=glowstorytelling.com) (7 figures) And before you think it’s only writers who are already famous who are selling these stories, here’s a quote from producer Scott Glassgold, explaining the shift to using a [short story as proof of concept](https://theoptionist.substack.com/p/ground-controls-scott-glassgold-on) rather than a short film: “These are very often writers who had the dream of breaking into the business, and geographically, they’re most likely not in the epicenter of publishing or film…when I met them, they’re literally sleeping on a relative’s couch. And by the end of the journey of a short story, between a film deal and a publishing deal, \[to\] be able to pick up the phone and tell them they’ve made over a million dollars, it’s really special.” Of course, some short stories are more adaptable than others. Producer Chris Goldberg (pen name Max Winter), a writer who’s sold his short stories as well as a book-to-film veteran, identifies [key elements that make a story sell](https://substack.com/profile/136175752-max-winter/note/c-142964863?ref=glowstorytelling.com), including genre, and how attractive the roles are to acting talent. Most deals I’ve seen are some combination of horror, thriller, or grounded sci-fi (think something that could happen here and now, not a far-off universe). A great example is [this sci-fi story that sold for a high six figures to Netflix](https://deadline.com/2023/03/jessica-chastain-misha-green-netflix-i-am-not-alone-grounded-sci-fi-terror-short-story-1235285754/?ref=glowstorytelling.com). The plot centers around a mother with migraines who begins having hallucinations of monsters and “must protect her family against a threat only she can see.” The visceral and relatable pain of migraines, of women not being believed about their pain or trusted for their perspective? Deeply real. Taking it a step further into a sci-fi world? Immediately captures an audience. ## Sign up for Glow by Dani Fankhauser Field notes on living in the Intuitive Era. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.