Review of “Save the Cat Writes a Novel”

If you’re a fellow writer, you may have come across references to Blake Snyder’s “Save the Cat” system. Essentially, it takes the process of storyboarding and screenwriting, and boils it down to a simplified system.

Recently, an adaptation of this system was developed for novel writing. This book, which is based upon Blake Snyder’s original system, is unequivocally one of the most valuable resources I’ve come across in my time as a writer.

In addition to breaking down story structure into 15 “beats”, the book provides a look at genres, theme, and how to create a compelling character arc. It also provides “beat sheets” breaking down popular books into their individual beats, allowing for a better understanding of the system as it applies to these works.

Bottom line: if you write fiction, buy this book. Get a physical copy if you can, grab a highlighter, and Save the Cat.

Happy reading!