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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 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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This is a really good book about the steps you should take to make your novel more exciting. It was extremely helpful for me. It also introduced me to the save the cat idea that I wasn't aware of until I read this book. Jessica does a great job reading her book.

great advice

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Great book and very helpful ideas. Very inspiring, well written and read. Thank you for your help.

Fabulous!

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Absolutely loved this book! The author elaborates brilliantly on each beat and provides valuable case studies of the beats in action through analysis of popular novels. The genre breakdown is also so enlightening - I have never felt so empowered to finish my first novel!

Valuable resource for a beginner novelist

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Her analysis of story structure and character transformation and the beats of all story is outstanding

Brilliant

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This was a revelatory experience in so many ways, I hadn't even known who my main character was until I listened to this. The struggle to make the narrative work then fell away, and I have a real spring board from which to proceed. I had the wrong character as the MC with NO idea for years, then it was so obvious! Love the way it's written and narrated, absolutely get this book to help you write. I was drowning with no proper structure working in ignorance. Now all my good material is going to be something Im in control of, instead of other way around. I was very depressed about it all and getting exhausted so it's been fantastic, very grateful thank you.

Saved me from having a nervous breakdown

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Love the save the cat series and this is yet another amazing entry to it... Definitely a wonderful read for ANY STORY TELLER..

Thank you, Wonderful BOOK

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The penultimate guide to novel writing.
A dynamic presentation by the author.
Top shelf. Five stars.

Fabulous!

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I’ve been thinking about writing for a while, and not actually doing anything about it. I feel like this is the book I’ve been waiting for to fire the starting pistol.

I am so motivated right now

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I've struggled to get back into writing for almost a year now. Save the Cat! has reignited my love of narrative and helped me get back into doing what I love.
It's no surprise that a book about narrative structure is so well thought out and easy to digest. Brody quotes in the book, "if you can't explain something simply, you don't understand it well enough," a fact she proves by explaining the daunting process of planning in a way that anyone can understand, and learn something from, no matter your level of knowledge.

Reignited my love of narrative.

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I love the original Save the Cat and this version for novel writing is equally fun and helpful.

Great writing guide

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