Resource Spotlight - Save the Cat! Writes a Novel

Photo credit to Elin Melaas

For many of you, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody needs no introduction. But if you're new to novel writing (like we all are at some point!), and you're wondering why everyone keeps referencing this book, read on!

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel is an adaptation of another book--simply Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder--geared at crafting the plot structure of screenplays. It's one of the most recommended books in those writing circles and you may have heard of Blake Snyder's Beat Sheet even if you're not a screenwriter. When Jessica Brody reinterpreted Snyder's work for novels, it made the techniques click for a whole new group of writers.

The basis of StC is the tried-and-true Three Act Structure that you're probably familiar with, but it breaks that down even more--into fifteen beats that fall somewhere within those three acts. As someone who's a "type A," my absolutely favorite aspect of StC is that Brody tells you what percentage of words each of those beats should take up in your novel.

We can all figure out that the midpoint should happen at about halfway through, but did you also know that your inciting incident should happen at about 10% of the way through your work? These goal posts make working out the pacing less intimidating for me. For something that feels really wishy-washy, Brody gives a concrete way to measure whether you're on track.

Another great aspect about this book is that most of it is taken up with in-depth examples. Brody maps out ten different story archetypes and shows how different genres use the three act structure differently. She talks about conventions of each genre and how you can use them to your advantage. Then, she walks you through well-known stories, showing you each beat and where it occurs within the plot. This really teaches you to "read like a writer" so that you can dissect other stories for yourself. It's also a great example of how sticking to a known plot structure does not make your story predictable or formulaic.

There's a reason this is probably the first craft book recommendation you'll get as a beginner writer. It's definitely a resource that you can come back to over and over and gives a thorough foundational knowledge of plot structure.