Will I love Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need?

I think Blake Snyder’s original book simplified, codified, and added to the most key fundamental precepts for screenwriters and did it in a light, breezy style that’s an easy read.

I find it to be full of practical wisdom delivered succinctly from a dedicated professional who knows the craft and how to communicate it.

Most blockbuster films of the early 21st century were written using the information in this book, including many of my favorites like Guardians of the Galaxy, Coco, Tangled, The Avengers, and more. The “Save the Cat Beat Sheet” provides a write-by-numbers formula for crafting tight and engaging feature films. It was also overused and almost destroyed Hollywood by making films too formulaic.

But I still love and recommend this book because I think it does something extremely valuable: it teaches new writers how tightly structured screenplays need to be. For any writer attempting their first screenplay, this is a… show more.

This book will keep a writer from chasing his or her own tail. The last thing a novelist wants a reader to do is start skimming. Instead of getting bogged down in muddy story development, learn how to create a clear, engaging arc for both plot and characters. Filled with practical examples gleaned from film and bookshelf, this book can save your story and make it pop.