Save the Cat!

While the title of this post may be misleading, there is saving involved just not a cat. If you have ever thought about writing a book or even a screenplay, I have some intriguing information to share with you today.

As part of the WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING TOUR for Save the Cat! Structure Software & Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody I had the opportunity to review either or both the book and the software. I selected to check out the Save the Cat! Structure Software

Before I tell you my thoughts on the program, let me share some background on it, the book, and the author.

About Save the Cat!®

Save the Cat! provides writers the resources they need to develop their screenplays and novels based on a series of best-selling books, primarily written by Blake Snyder (1957- 2009). Blake’s method is based on 10 distinctive genres and his 15 story beats (the Blake Snyder Beat Sheet). The books, workshops, story structure software, apps, and story coaching teach you everything you need to unlock the fundamentals and mechanics of plot and character transformation.

Find out more about Save the Cat! by visiting their webpage at www.savethecat.com.

About Save the Cat! Writes a Novel

Print Length: 320 Pages

Genre: Writing References

Publisher: Ten Speed Press/Random House Publishing LLC

ASIN: B078VWDNKT

ISBN-10: 0399579745

ISBN-13:978-0399579745

An Amazon #1 best seller with over 500 reviews, it’s the first novel-writing guide from the bestselling Save the Cat! story-structure series, reveals the 15 essential plot points needed to make any novel a success.

In this revolutionary novel-writing guide from the bestselling Save the Cat! series, novelist Jessica Brody demystifies each beat, making it simple to learn the complexities of storytelling. The bestseller also reveals the ten universal story genres to help you drill down into what makes your type of story work.

Featuring sample “beat sheets” for hits from the likes of J. K. Rowling, Khaled Hosseini, and Stephen King, this practical guide also includes real-world advice on pitching your novel, plus the quirky, original insights (like the eponymous tip to “Save the Cat”) that make this series unique. By the end of this book, your own imaginative beats will combine to create a story that thrills readers from start to finish.

Save the Cat! Writes the Novel is available as a print and eBook at Amazon.com and Barnesand Noble.

About the Save the Cat Structure Software

Save the Cat! Story Structure Software is adapted from the Save the Cat! methodology to help screenwriters and novelists unlock the fundamentals of plot and character transformation. The Story Structure Software is a virtual writer board with digital index cards to help map out your story against the 15 beats or plot points to your story. The software enables writers to track emotional shifts of characters from scene to scene, develop profiles and edit and version your story with ease.

You can purchase a subscription to the Save the Cat! Structure Software at Savethe Cat's website.

About the Author, Jessica Brody

Jessica Brody worked for MGM Studios as manager of acquisitions and business development before becoming an internationally best-selling author of more than fifteen novels for adults and teens including The Geography of Lost Things, The Chaos of Standing Still, A Week of Mondays, and Better You Than Me. She travels the country teaching Save the Cat! workshops to novelists.

Now my thoughts ……

While I compiled the information for the book I co-authored, I have never sat down to write a book from my imagination even though I’ve toyed with the notion from time to time. For that reason, I don’t consider myself a writer, but decided I would give the software a try to see if it could help me.

Being a novice at writing a book, I found the program needed to be experimented with a bit to get the feel of it and how best to make it work for me. There’s a helpful tutorial to assist with any points you’re not sure of. The program is one I can see being very beneficial to writers, especially those needing to be better organized.

It’s a great way to also jot down notes you want to incorporate in your story later. Using the program you don’t have to remember what you did with the sticky note you wrote last week that had the perfect description of your MC’s favorite getaway – you just pull up the digital index card.

There are prompts to help with all elements of your story and don’t worry if your story turns into a series, the program can help with that too. Also, if you have an idea you’re not sure you’re going to use but don’t want to delete it, just put it in the “litter box” and come back to it later.

If this program can help me, I’m sure it can help you get those thoughts out of your head and down in print. The software is a great help in putting the elements of your story together smoothly.

The tour began @ The Muffin, where you can find the complete tour dates and blogs.

Thanks for stopping by today. Have you tried the Save the Cat! Software or read the book? Tell us your thoughts on the pros and cons you found.