These promotions will be applied to this item:
Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.
Your Memberships and Subscriptions

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book On Novel Writing You'll Ever Need Kindle Edition
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.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherTen Speed Press
- Publication date9 Oct. 2018
- File size7.2 MB

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.
View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.
Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.
Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Shop this series
See full series- Kindle Price:£30.92By clicking on the above button, you agree to Amazon's Kindle Store Terms of UseSold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
- Kindle Price:£45.12By clicking on the above button, you agree to Amazon's Kindle Store Terms of UseSold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
- Kindle Price:£61.09By clicking on the above button, you agree to Amazon's Kindle Store Terms of UseSold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
Shop this series
This option includes 3 books.
This option includes 5 books.
This option includes 8 books.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
- The most effective character goals or wants are concrete and tangible.Highlighted by 5,484 Kindle readers
- And most important, what will really fix your hero’s life? What does your hero actually need?Highlighted by 3,478 Kindle readers
- Because in the end, the want is only half the story. Heroes aren’t complete until they also have a need.Highlighted by 2,450 Kindle readers
Product description
Review
The Beginning . . .
So, let’s get this party started. We’ve got a big journey ahead of us, and I, for one, am antsy to get moving.
First things first. What do you need? At the very least, you need an idea for a novel. It doesn’t have to be a huge idea. It can be a seed of an idea, it can be a twinkle of an idea. It can even be a character that interests you, or a collection of inspiring thoughts that you hope to somehow string together. Perhaps you’ve got an idea but you don’t know if it’s worth writing. You don’t know if it “has legs” as they say in the film industry. Can it go the distance? Can it really carry you through three hundred-plus pages of prose?
Or you might already have a novel fully or partially written that’s not working, that you know you have to revise. Or maybe you’ve started a book and don’t know where it’s going and now you’re stuck and in need of some inspiration.
Regardless of your specific situation, I’m excited to have you along for the journey. Here’s a quick breakdown of what we’ll be covering in the following chapters (the structure of this book on structure, if you will):
1. THE HERO: First, in chapter 1, we’ll talk about the main character or “hero” of your story, who they are, and why they are desperately in need of transformation.
2. THE BEATS: In chapter 2, we’ll explore the fifteen beats of the Save the Cat! Beat Sheet in great detail so you can begin to map out the compelling, transformative journey of your novel.
3. THE GENRES: Then, in chapters 3–13, we’ll identify the genre of your story using the ten Save the Cat! story genres. These are not your mother’s genres (sci-fi, drama, comedy, and so on). Instead, the Save the Cat! story genres are broken down by type of character transformation and/or central theme. This will help you further develop your novel and make sure your story contains the necessary “genre ingredients” to make it successful. Also in these chapters, I’ll give you ten beat sheets for popular blockbuster novels (one for each story genre), so you can see how the fifteen beats apply to some of today’s most successful books.
4. THE PITCH: By chapter 14, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what your novel is about,
which will help you distill the story down into a one-page description (the synopsis) and furthermore, into a one-sentence description (the logline) that you can use to pitch agents, editors, publishers, readers, and even movie producers.
5. THE FAQ: Despite the awesomeness and thoroughness of the previous chapters, I guarantee you’ll have problems along the way. Which is why, in chapter 15, I give you practical solutions to the six most common problems novelists face when implementing the Save the Cat! methodology.
What About the Cat?
But wait! We forgot one important thing. The question that I’m sure has been on your mind from the moment you first heard about this book or picked it up in the bookstore.
Why on earth is it called “Save the Cat!”?
The answer dates back to the original Save the Cat! book, in which Blake Snyder included several cleverly titled tips on how to avoid common pitfalls of storytelling. “Save the cat!” is one of these tips. If your main character starts off somewhat unlikable, then, in the early pages of your story, they should save a cat (yes, like from a tree or a burning building or a shelter), or do something comparable that immediately makes the reader root for them, regardless of their original likability.
We’ll talk more about cats and how to save them in chapter 15, when we break down some of the most common problems writers face when implementing the Save the Cat! methodology. Additionally, throughout this book, I’ve included several new tips and tricks specifically for novelists to help you improve your story.
So, let’s get on with it already. Your main character is waiting, and they have a huge problem . . . --Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
The Beginning . . .
So, let’s get this party started. We’ve got a big journey ahead of us, and I, for one, am antsy to get moving.
First things first. What do you need? At the very least, you need an idea for a novel. It doesn’t have to be a huge idea. It can be a seed of an idea, it can be a twinkle of an idea. It can even be a character that interests you, or a collection of inspiring thoughts that you hope to somehow string together. Perhaps you’ve got an idea but you don’t know if it’s worth writing. You don’t know if it “has legs” as they say in the film industry. Can it go the distance? Can it really carry you through three hundred-plus pages of prose?
Or you might already have a novel fully or partially written that’s not working, that you know you have to revise. Or maybe you’ve started a book and don’t know where it’s going and now you’re stuck and in need of some inspiration.
Regardless of your specific situation, I’m excited to have you along for the journey. Here’s a quick breakdown of what we’ll be covering in the following chapters (the structure of this book on structure, if you will):
1. THE HERO: First, in chapter 1, we’ll talk about the main character or “hero” of your story, who they are, and why they are desperately in need of transformation.
2. THE BEATS: In chapter 2, we’ll explore the fifteen beats of the Save the Cat! Beat Sheet in great detail so you can begin to map out the compelling, transformative journey of your novel.
3. THE GENRES: Then, in chapters 3–13, we’ll identify the genre of your story using the ten Save the Cat! story genres. These are not your mother’s genres (sci-fi, drama, comedy, and so on). Instead, the Save the Cat! story genres are broken down by type of character transformation and/or central theme. This will help you further develop your novel and make sure your story contains the necessary “genre ingredients” to make it successful. Also in these chapters, I’ll give you ten beat sheets for popular blockbuster novels (one for each story genre), so you can see how the fifteen beats apply to some of today’s most successful books.
4. THE PITCH: By chapter 14, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what your novel is about,
which will help you distill the story down into a one-page description (the synopsis) and furthermore, into a one-sentence description (the logline) that you can use to pitch agents, editors, publishers, readers, and even movie producers.
5. THE FAQ: Despite the awesomeness and thoroughness of the previous chapters, I guarantee you’ll have problems along the way. Which is why, in chapter 15, I give you practical solutions to the six most common problems novelists face when implementing the Save the Cat! methodology.
What About the Cat?
But wait! We forgot one important thing. The question that I’m sure has been on your mind from the moment you first heard about this book or picked it up in the bookstore.
Why on earth is it called “Save the Cat!”?
The answer dates back to the original Save the Cat! book, in which Blake Snyder included several cleverly titled tips on how to avoid common pitfalls of storytelling. “Save the cat!” is one of these tips. If your main character starts off somewhat unlikable, then, in the early pages of your story, they should save a cat (yes, like from a tree or a burning building or a shelter), or do something comparable that immediately makes the reader root for them, regardless of their original likability.
We’ll talk more about cats and how to save them in chapter 15, when we break down some of the most common problems writers face when implementing the Save the Cat! methodology. Additionally, throughout this book, I’ve included several new tips and tricks specifically for novelists to help you improve your story.
So, let’s get on with it already. Your main character is waiting, and they have a huge problem . . .
Product details
- ASIN : B078VWDNKT
- Publisher : Ten Speed Press
- Accessibility : Learn more
- Publication date : 9 Oct. 2018
- Language : English
- File size : 7.2 MB
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Not Enabled
- Print length : 311 pages
- ISBN-13 : 978-0399579752
- Page Flip : Enabled
- Part of series : Save the Cat!
- Best Sellers Rank: 6,759 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 2 in Language Study & Teaching
- 2 in Publishing & Books
- 2 in History of Books
- Customer reviews:
About the author

Jessica Brody is the author of more than 20 books for teens, tweens, and adults including Sky Without Stars, Between Burning Worlds, The Chaos of Standing Still, Better You Than Me, A Week of Mondays, 52 Reasons to Hate My Father, and the Unremembered trilogy. She’s also the author of the Descendants: School of Secrets series, based on the hit Disney Channel original movie, Descendants, as well as the #1 bestselling novel-plotting guide, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel. Her books have been translated and published in over 23 countries and several have been optioned for film and television She lives with her husband and three dogs near Portland, OR.
Visit her online at JessicaBrody.com. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram @JessicaBrody
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings, help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book's structure helpful, with one noting it contains a wealth of information on story beats. Moreover, the writing ability receives positive feedback, with customers appreciating that the book writes in terms they can understand and serves as essential reading for aspiring novelists.
AI Generated from the text of customer reviews
Select to learn more
Customers appreciate the book's structure, particularly how it guides readers through plotting their books and tackling plot development. One customer notes it contains a wealth of information on story beats, while another praises its down-to-earth approach.
"...who had used and succeeded with the original method, has created a concise, straight forward, easy to use guide to creating a great novel...." Read more
"...beats are explained in plain, easy to understand language with loads of examples. Then there are 10 genres to choose from...." Read more
"Great and readable text that is both humourous and informative." Read more
"Good explations and examples." Read more
Customers find this book excellent for writing, appreciating that it explains everything about the craft in terms they can understand, making it essential reading for aspiring novelists. One customer notes how it guides through Beat Sheets, while another highlights its fresh approach to creating loglines and synopses.
"...Ideal to use as a reference book ot to hone up on ones writing skills." Read more
"Save the cat! Writes a Novel’ is the best self help book about writing I’ve ever read...." Read more
"The best novel writing book around" Read more
"...Jessica Brody, the author, writes in terms that I can understand, with multiple relevant examples, and walks the reader through the whole process of..." Read more
Reviews with images

Save the Cat!
Top reviews from United Kingdom
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 June 2025Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseGreat book to dip in and out of. Ideal to use as a reference book ot to hone up on ones writing skills.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 November 2018Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseSave the cat! Writes a Novel’ is the best self help book about writing I’ve ever read. As soon as you begin to read, there’s a feeling of excitement as this tried and trusted recipe for successful novel writing is explained by Jessica Brody. Originally an idea by the late Blake Snyder, a Hollywood screenwriter, Jessica, one of his pupils who had used and succeeded with the original method, has created a concise, straight forward, easy to use guide to creating a great novel.
With very little pre-amble, the book dives straight in, asking you questions about your book idea or the WIP you’ve started (or completed.) One of the beauties of this book is that it suits plotters or pantsers. If you want to organise and plot with precision, you can use this book from the word go, or if, like me, you’d already written the book, but wanted it to be the best it could be (or wanted to see how close to the perfect book you’ve managed to get yourself), then you can use it at this point to.
Having already studied another novel writing book, I managed to get the majority of the points mentioned in the book, but not necessarily in the right order or to the degree I needed to press the points home. With my newly fashioned ‘Beat Sheet’, I’m working my way through my book, crafting and sculpting to make it flow better and keep the reader hooked with every turn of the page.
This book will not write your story for you. You need a good story to start with, but be assured, if you follow this ‘Beat Sheet’, you’ll have the best possible structure for your book.
The book guides the writer through Beat Sheets and Story Genres, and you think ‘Wow, this is so simple when you read it like this.’ While you’re basking in the sunshine of knowing you’re onto a winner, Ms Brody gives you more! ‘Pitch it to me!’ gives you all the info you need to create fabulous, unforgettable loglines and concise, exciting synopses. …And then there’s even more! ‘Save the Author!’ is all of her FAQs, beautifully answered to give you the most detailed yet manageable ‘big picture’ you’ll ever need.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 March 2025Format: Kindle EditionVerified PurchaseSomething in my story wasn't working and I felt desperate. Decided to read this book as a distraction. It actually helped me! I recommend this book for novel's structure and story beats.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 June 2024Format: Kindle EditionVerified PurchaseThis book is a good guide to the Save the Cat technique for structure, and is great to get you out of a story hole!
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 March 2025Format: Kindle EditionVerified PurchaseThe best novel writing book around
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 September 2020Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseI debated for the longest time whether I should get this book or not. Many years ago, I read the original Save the Cat! and loved it so much that I bought my own copy. I wasn't sure this version would be different enough to justify buying it, but I do love a book on writing. So, I eventually caved because I figured I'd learn something and, well, because I wanted it #noselfcontrol
Best decision I've made this month!
Not only did I learn things, I copied one of the drawings and pinned it to my desk, and it's solved several plot issues I've been having with my WIP (How Long 'til Black Future Month by NK Jemisin solved the other).
I've had a pretty good structure in place before - a mixture between the original Save the Cat! beat sheet and the one suggested by KM Weiland - but I always felt there was something missing. The one in this book seems to have everything for me, but I'll see what happens when I actually use it to plot today. Right now, it feels like a WIP saver!
This is now a firm favourite. I've gone through it with a highlighter, and I've marked a few pages which I know I'll be coming back to. I admit, I've skipped most of the longer examples, but I'll likely go through them when I'm stuck in my plot and need that extra inspiration.
If you've been on the fence about buying this like I was, I'd say go ahead and buy it! Even if you're a pantser, I think you'll take something away from this book since she also explains the key elements a successful plot needs - no sitting down to draw up a massive outline required if that's not your thing. Personally, I'm a plotster and currently eyeing a corkboard on Amazon.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 February 2025Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseVery good, helped me write my first novel
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 September 2019Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseJust finishing ’Save the Cat Writes a Novel ‘ The Last Book on Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need.
I don’t normally do reviews, but this book is certainly worthy of some attention. A couple of years ago I signed up for and started attending a writing course at a local college. What I had hoped to get was some specific instruction on structure, pacing, characterisation and the like. But while the course was pleasant enough, I couldn’t see any of what I really needed and dropped out.
I feel that I should have read this book three years ago. It explains exactly what I, and possibly most other wannabe writers should know and do.
There is a detailed breakdown into fifteen milestones, (she calls them ‘Beats’, I think in reference to the beat in music), each is explained, with reference to well-known books and one is further sub-divided into five mini-beats.
She also lists ten genres which are not the traditional type of genre such as mystery, romance, sci-fi, etc. but which are much more wide-ranging and which make a lot of sense, such as Whydunit, Rites of Passage, Dude with a Problem, etc. Three points are required in each of these genres and each genre is then explored with a specific novel that is exploded using the beats. A ‘Beat-Sheet’ is given so that you can see how other authors, from JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone to Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner, have created their masterpieces and match her template.
Jessica Brody, the author, writes in terms that I can understand, with multiple relevant examples, and walks the reader through the whole process of planning and creating a novel.
Highly recommended.
Top reviews from other countries
-
Marco N.G. FilipponiReviewed in Italy on 10 June 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Fondamentale
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseUtilissimo se volete approcciarvi alla sceneggiatura di narrativa in qualsiasi forma, non necessariamente di romanzo, con consigli, terminologia, esempi, e il tutto in maniera scorrevole...
-
MargrietReviewed in the Netherlands on 3 April 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Gekocht naast ebook. Wat een geweldig boek. Ik ben fan!
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseIk had al een digitale versie van het boek, maar ik vind dit boek zo goed, dat ik ook een papieren versie wilde hebben. Ik heb stickertjes aangebracht, zodat ik gemakkelijk alles kan terugvinden. Twijfel je tussen de ebook- en de papieren, kan dit je misschien helpen.
Tip voor de uitgever. Een luxere versie met bijvoorbeeld gekleurde pagina’s zou een aanrader zijn en dat verdient dit boek ook.
MargrietGekocht naast ebook. Wat een geweldig boek. Ik ben fan!
Reviewed in the Netherlands on 3 April 2023
Tip voor de uitgever. Een luxere versie met bijvoorbeeld gekleurde pagina’s zou een aanrader zijn en dat verdient dit boek ook.
Images in this review
-
Client d'AmazonReviewed in France on 20 February 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Très utile
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseTrès intéressant, ce lit facilement.
- Robert NilssonReviewed in Sweden on 25 November 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseLast book you will ever read :)
- SmithReviewed in Canada on 23 April 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide to plotting your novel.
Format: Kindle EditionVerified PurchaseWay fewer cats than I expected.
A really helpful book for brainstorming and reviewing your novel. Very adaptable. The genre section seemed less helpful to me.