Save the Cat.

[TildaRae]

Hi,

does anyone use the save the cat methods for their writing. I’ve just downloaded the book and familiarising myself with the beats. Does your story fit with the save the cat way? Thank you.

I use Save the Cat Writes a Novel which is basically a version of the original STC screenwriting book. It's a useful way of ensuring that my books cover the necessary points. These days I'm not following it religiously but I'm aware of the path it needs to take. When I was beginning to write it was particularly helpful.

I use the novel one too.... I have found it helpful in terms of understanding structure but the more I move through I notice it still misses things. The most helpful thing has been watching movies with it in mind. You can really see that most films do tend to follow that method in some way or another. Some how it's helped my writing understanding that.

Thank you, yes I’m using the writes a novel one and also seeing the patterns in the shows and films.

I love Save the Cat - and once you 'get' the beats and you're ready to use them, Savannah Gilbo does a really great walk-through explaining it better. For some reason she doesn't link to the next section at the end of each post, but you can find them by searching her site. www.savannahgilbo.com/blog/save-the-cat-beginning

I read it and it's excellent. It made me a better writer.

Editing my first novel and am using this. How closely do people follow the structure? I barely had any act 1 and am spending more time setting the scene before the protagonist gets launched into their post catalyst world.

Why set the scene rather than let the reader work it out by the progress of the story?

@Zilla1 the reader does work it out but all books need a sort of opening like a movie. Of course the reader still figures it out. In Save The Cat the structure suggested makes perfect sense.