Save the Cat! Writes a Novel
Students who have taken many of my writing classes know I am a huge fan of Syd Field’s book ‘Screenplay’. This foundational work helped me understand storytelling by using films to illustrate the Act 1, Act 2, Act 3 structure. The concepts not only worked in writing screenplays but also translated quite well to novel writing. So well, in fact, I’ve used these lessons many times to teach classes outside film studies, including novel writing.
Recently I stumbled on a book I purchased some time ago but never made the time to read and I realized the holes in Field’s work, at least as far as writing novels is concerned. Author Jessica Brody’s Save the Cat! Writes a Novel considers many details of storytelling I previously may have known, but am certain I’d not seen articulated before.
In offering details and examples from familiar works (both film and novels), Brody illustrates key methods for writing a successful story. The mind-blowing bits for me include a more specific breakdown of what happens in each Act of a story so, as a writer, I can tell my story in a way that works but isn’t formulaic.
If you’re looking to get started in writing your novel or screenplay, or if you’re stuck in that beast known as Act 2, I’d encourage you to pick up both Syd Field’s Screenplay and Jessica Brody’s Save the Cat! Writes a Novel. Together, these books will get you through to the end of your story– and I can almost guarantee it will be stronger for it.
I’m excited to test-drive Brody’s ‘Beat Sheet’ as I work on my next novel. If you have a writing book that’s been helpful to you, please share it below. Or, if you’ve used Brody or Field in your process, share what of their work has been most effective and helpful for you.
Happy writing!
