Screenplay or Novel?

I have a dilemma that is deeply disturbing for a writer. I’m working on the outline for a new story, what I thought would be the third and next novel in the FALSE DAWN series. I always write plot outlines first; the characters come later.

But as I’ve finished the outline, the storyline screams at me, “This is not a novel. This is a screenplay.” I could do it all with pictures and dialog, I’ve realized, so why try to make this new story into a novel? I want to write it as a novel for two reasons: first, it’s a longer more substantial project for the upcoming winter, and second, I’ve pretty much given up writing new screenplays because no one wants to read them, much less buy them.

Most writers, I think, would advise me to listen to the material when it says, Don’t try to make me into something I’m not. I’m inclined to ignore this good advice and start writing the story as a novel anyway.

I know that if I’ve made the wrong choice, the characters will tell me. They always do. Screenplay are generally more superficial than novels, which require more depth and resonance. Perhaps these qualities will appear in the manuscript as I write it. Or the effort will seem excruciating and I’ll stop writing. I’ll know soon enough.