How to Write a Book with Save the Cat!

Updated April 2021 —

As an author and teacher, I cannot tell you how many times I get asked, “How do you write a book?” 

It’s a fair question, especially if you have dreams of becoming a writer.  My answer varies depending on whether the person wants to write a nonfiction book or a novel.   I even offer a free nonfiction book writing checklist and planner.

But for those wanting to write a novel, I suggest using a novel-writing guide like, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need, by Jessica Brody.

Full of insights and tips on storytelling, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel:  The Last Book on Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need is a self-help book that offers writers a fresh perspective on how to write a novel.

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.

My Introduction to Jessica Brody

Before reading Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, I was a fan of Jessica Brody. I first met Jessica when I took one of her courses called Productivity Hacks for Writers. As a life-long learner of all things related to productivity and how to get things done, I bought the class to see if I could add a few more weapons to my arsenal.

I did not know I would find an instant connection with Jessica. It was like finding my long-lost productivity sister—finally, someone who speaks my language of change and possibility. Girlfriend, welcome home!

So, when it came time to read Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, I was all in. I knew Jessica would offer easy-to-follow instructions into novel writing. Like her courses, Jessica’s book reads like a therapy session with your favorite writing coach. All I needed was a hot cup of ginger tea, my favorite writing notebook, and an open mind ready to follow the process.

What it Means to Save the Cat!

In the book, Jessica encourages the reader to use 15 story beats as part of a three-act story structure to write a book. The methodology comes from Blake Synder’s Save the Cat! Writes a Screenplay: The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need. Synder encouraged screenwriters with unlikeable main characters to have the person “save the cat” as a way to get viewers to like the main character.

Not only does Jessica takes the reader on a journey through three acts: Act 1 – Set up your world; Act 2 – Add conflict; and Act 3 – Resolve the dispute, but she explains the 15 essential story beats along the way.

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel is 320 pages long. Jessica arranged the book into 15 chapters. In each chapter, she explains each beat of storytelling and helps readers explore questions about their novel ideas. The book is designed to appeal to both plotters and pantsers.

As a writer who embraces change, I was immediately drawn to the book’s message.  I love the structure and guidance the book offers.

Key Lessons Learned from Save the Cat!

While the entire book is full of insights on how to structure a story, here are a few lessons I learned:

The Save the Cat Beat Sheet (Chapter 2)

Jessica acknowledges that writing a book can be a daunting task. However, the use of her beat sheet helps the reader to avoid plotting problems from the start. As a visual learner, I appreciate Jessica’s approach to seeing how my story could unfold.

Dude with a Problem (Chapter 8)

In this chapter, Jessica highlights the importance of adding ordinary characters overcoming extraordinary obstacles. She brings this point to life by examining stories like The Martian, The Firm, and The Hate U Give. Jessica’s best advice, “If you plan to write a dude with a problem story, don’t forget to add an innocent hero, a sudden event, and life-or-death battle.”

Save the Author (Chapter 15)

According to Hutchinson, since the learning process is different for everyone, learning to write a story using 15 beats could be confusing. In this case, she advises the reader to start with the Five Foundation Beats, which are:

• • Catalyst
  • Break Into 2
  • Midpoint
  • Break Into 3
  • All is Lost

The key point to remember: No matter where our novel-writing adventures take us, we can all be storytelling heroes.

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need is an excellent self-help book for anyone wanting to write a novel.

Final Thoughts

To those who argue the book doesn’t provide enough instruction, I would say look again. Not only can the book be used to write a novel, but writers can use the information to revise an unpublished manuscript to ensure better flow and tighter storytelling.

As with any self-help book, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel will not write your story for you. It’s up to you to go through each chapter and work through every beat of your story.

However, I am such a firm believer that I plan to apply the structure to writing my first fiction novel scheduled for release in 2022.

If you need additional help, there are lots of Save the Cat resources available.  I recently highlighted The Board, which comprises the 15 beats of the Save The Cat!® Beat Sheet.  

Another valuable tool I’m using now is the Save the Cat Storytelling Webinar hosted by Jessica.  The webinars feature live instruction and you can review the recording after the session.

In Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, Jessica guides the writer eager to learn how to tell great stories. Once again, Jessica has inspired me through our common language of change and possibility.

Thanks, Jessica.