Save the Cat! Writes a Novel cover art

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel

The Last Book on Novel Writing You'll Ever Need

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Save the Cat! Writes a Novel

By: Jessica Brody
Narrated by: Jessica Brody
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About this listen

The first novel-writing guide from the best-selling Save the Cat! story-structure series, which reveals the 15 essential plot points needed to make any novel a success.

Novelist Jessica Brody presents a comprehensive story-structure guide for novelists that applies the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology to the world of novel writing. Revealing the 15 "beats" (plot points) that comprise a successful story--from the opening image to the finale--this book lays out the Ten Story Genres (Monster in the House; Whydunit; Dude with a Problem) alongside quirky, original insights (Save the Cat; Shard of Glass) to help novelists craft a plot that will captivate--and a novel that will sell.

With a PDF that includes charts, lists, and exercises from the book.
Words, Language & Grammar Writing & Publishing Thought-Provoking Creative Writing

Critic reviews

“Every novelist should own a copy of this book. It will change the way you think about stories—and your writing. Jessica Brody takes the mystery and frustration out of plotting a novel. I’ll never write another book without a copy of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel.—Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times best-selling coauthor of Beautiful Creatures and author of Broken Beautiful Hearts

“Good plotters aren't born. They're formed by studying the twists and turns of others' stories. Save the Cat! Writes a Novel is a perfect plot study tool for all levels of writer. It will help you dissect any plot conundrum, conceive your story's blueprint, and give a beat to every pivot of your hero's journey.”—Grant Faulkner, executive director of National Novel Writing Month and author of Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo

“Through its insightful use of beat sheets, genres, and trade secrets, this book is an invaluable guide through the daunting task of writing a novel.”—Jessica Khoury, author of The Forbidden Wish and Last of Her Name

“This playful, illuminating book is a godsend for anyone seeking to understand story structure for novels.”—Emmy Laybourne, author of the international bestselling Monument 14 trilogy, and the novels Sweet, Berserker and Ransacker

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Brilliant book! I would not hesitate to recommend this book. Read by the author so she understands what she’s reading unlike many other audio books. I find it easy to listen to as properly annunciated.

Cat Saved

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It's a great book - click and get it. However, I need to point out that beat-sheets are too long and repetitive. If the author is reading this... thank you for great narration and the book; but please cut down the beat-sheets after some time it gets really really boring... I had to skip them.

Great book, but beat-sheets long and repetitive

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If you have the Save the Cat books you know there are topics that need more explanation. Jessica fills in those areas with the same love for her fellow writers as Blake had for us bullheads. It is also an excellent treasure chest of the best advice on plotting and structuring of a story, with examples from both classic and popular fiction.

An excellent addition to the Save the Cat series!

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Please forgive grammar errors as I’m not native in English :)

This book is clear, useful and encouraging guide for your book plot. It clearly states what kind of emotional turns are needed to keep the reader invested in your story. I really appreciate this book for clearly told advice as it is not easy to give understandable guidelines for a plot. With this book I corrected a few flaws in my plan, which I could not have discovered on my own. I like my design a lot more after checking it with advice from this book. I found my confidence in my story and have begun the writing process. I warmly recommend this book!

Great advice and enjoyable presentation

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good book but can't finish it due to vocal fry of narrator. just can't bear it. sorry

nobody likes vocal fry! why do it?

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