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Save the Cat!: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need Kindle Edition

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 7,951 ratings

This ultimate insider's guide reveals the secrets that none dare admit, told by a show biz veteran who's proven that you can sell your script if you can save the cat!

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“One of the most comprehensive and insightful how-to's out there. Save the Cat! is a must-read for both the novice and the professional screenwriter.” – Todd Black, Producer, Hope Springs, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, The Pursuit of Happyness, The Weather Man, Antwone Fisher “Want to know how to be a successful writer in Hollywood? The answers are here. Blake Snyder has written an insider's book that's informative ― and funny, too.” – David Hoberman, Producer, Muppets Most Wanted (2014), The Muppets, The Shaggy Dog , Raising Helen, Walking Tall, Monk (TV) "You'd have to look far and wide to find a better book to help you achieve your goals. Quite simply one of the most practical guides to writing mainstream spec scripts on the market." – Screentalk Magazine

About the Author

Blake Snyder's Save the Cat series of books are the best selling books on screenwriting

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00340ESIS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Michael Wiese Productions (May 25, 2005)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 25, 2005
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.5 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 215 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 7,951 ratings

About the author

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Blake Snyder
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In his 20-year career as a screenwriter and producer, Blake Snyder sold dozens of scripts, including co-writing Blank Check, which became a hit for Disney, and Nuclear Family for Steven Spielberg. His book, "Save the Cat!® The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need," was published in May 2005, and is now in its 33rd printing. The sequels, "Save the Cat!® Goes to the Movies: The Screenwriter's Guide to Every Story Ever Told," "Save the Cat!® Strikes Back: More Trouble for Screenwriters to Get Into... And Out Of," and software, "Save the Cat!® The Last Story Structure Software You'll Ever Need," are also bestsellers. Along with guiding screenwriters, novelists, and other creative thinkers, Blake's method has become the secret weapon of many development executives, managers, and producers for its precise, easy, and honest appraisal of what it takes to write and develop stories in any media. Blake was a proud member of the Writers Guild of America, west. He passed away suddenly on August 4, 2009, but he lives on in his films and his books, in the advice that will never grow old, with the spirit that will continue to thrive and inspire. His story resonates with all who loved him, and your stories will resonate thanks to his love for you. Blake's vision continues on his website and in "Save the Cat!® Goes to the Indies: The Screenwriter's Guide to 50 Films from the Masters," written by Salva Rubio and published in April, 2017.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
7,951 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book a useful guide for screenwriting. It provides practical advice and helpful tips. They appreciate the clear writing style and humor. The book is described as concise, easy to understand, and worth the price.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

607 customers mention "Screenwriting"578 positive29 negative

Customers find the book helpful for screenwriting and authors. They say it's an entertaining guide to writing a script for a movie. The book provides tips and tricks for improving a screenplay, as well as pitfalls to avoid. Readers mention it's inspiring and a must-have for writers who want to get published.

"...I definitely feel more confident in writing my script now and figuring out how to fill in the blanks when I wasn't sure in what direction the story..." Read more

"...and present ideas in a fresh way, then that book is helpful and worth a look. This book is a fast read and entertaining...." Read more

"...This book was well worth the time it took to read it and the money invested, and I'm certain I want to move on to Snyder's other two books...." Read more

"...In addition, it would be well worth your while watching the very best films made outside the Hollywood tradition..." Read more

548 customers mention "Information quality"533 positive15 negative

Customers find the book provides useful information on developing, adapting, and finishing a script. They appreciate the practical advice, tips, and tricks. The book makes a good case for the author's theories using examples that are easy to remember.

"...So for a beginner like me this book was filled with TONS of useful information how I could turn a basic idea in my head into a fully fledged movie..." Read more

"...His theories are clearly and insightfully expressed and he has a direct friendly way of talking to the reader with a bit of comedy...." Read more

"...as 'Pope in the Pool,' that are easily remembered and express important points for any writer, whether their working on screenplays or manuscripts...." Read more

"...written -- Mr. Snyder knows how to make his point both clearly and cleverly -- I had an uneasy feeling while I was reading it...." Read more

385 customers mention "Ease of reading"346 positive39 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and understand. The writing is clear and structured, with a friendly, direct style. They appreciate the helpful information and advice provided in a straightforward manner.

"...It lays out a structured outline for you to follow...." Read more

"...are clearly and insightfully expressed and he has a direct friendly way of talking to the reader with a bit of comedy...." Read more

"...addition to 'Save the Cat,' such as 'Pope in the Pool,' that are easily remembered and express important points for any writer, whether their..." Read more

"...While the book is very well written -- Mr. Snyder knows how to make his point both clearly and cleverly -- I had an uneasy feeling while I was..." Read more

137 customers mention "Humor"137 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor. They find the author's sense of humor entertaining and engaging, with fun anecdotes and examples. The style is conversational and makes for an easy read, laced with smiles and chuckles.

"...This all adds up to a quick and fun read. Another thing to keep in mind is that some people are totally against any type of formula writing...." Read more

"...instruction, yes, but also encouragement and inspiration, laced with smiles and chuckles...." Read more

"...Save the Cat will show how to craft the story so that it is entertaining to the audience. As I was once told, "Do you want to be paid?..." Read more

"...write a good screenplay in a way that is understandable and an absolute joy to read...." Read more

45 customers mention "Point-making"45 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's content concise and straightforward. They appreciate the clear, minute-by-minute outline that provides a practical blueprint to follow. The first few chapters are engaging and witty, providing an enlightening introduction to the topic.

"...that it makes an unsurpassed starting point, yet remains an incomparable finishing point. I plan to return to it over and over again...." Read more

"...but they are very clear and concise and offer a very workable blueprint to follow...." Read more

"...they provide a very accurate, concise, and some would even say easy plot model. As you know, constructing a plot from nothing can be difficult...." Read more

"...At the very least, this book appears to be a good place to begin, to learn the basics...." Read more

38 customers mention "Value for money"34 positive4 negative

Customers find the book offers good value for money. They say it provides useful tools to craft a good and saleable story.

"...This book was well worth the time it took to read it and the money invested, and I'm certain I want to move on to Snyder's other two books...." Read more

"...inevitable disillusion this book, in my opinion, is worth way more than the cost of admission." Read more

"...courses out there, but I could have bought this book and saved myself a lot of money -- not that the other experiences weren't good ones because..." Read more

"...formed story using this book and for that reason alone it's worth the price of admission...." Read more

36 customers mention "Aspiring writer"36 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful for aspiring writers. They say it's one of the most useful writing books they've read. The author is experienced and knows the subject well. Readers recommend the book and software program to young and older experienced writers alike.

"...Recommended to aspiring writers, authors, and screenwriters as a beneficial reference tool." Read more

"...And it is a great introduction to all writers into the reality of the underlying foundational structure of stories...." Read more

"...The points are not exclusive to screen-writing, they apply to all writers. Oh, the title, 'Save The Cat'?..." Read more

"If you haven't read this book, shame on you. Essential for serious writers" Read more

35 customers mention "Pacing"33 positive2 negative

Customers find the book helpful for pacing stories. It helps them identify lagging and dragging sections, which saves time and money. They appreciate the quick flow of information and how it helps optimize writing time.

"...This all adds up to a quick and fun read. Another thing to keep in mind is that some people are totally against any type of formula writing...." Read more

"...made a good case for his theories, including using numerous examples from successful movies. There is a place for this kind of book...." Read more

"...advice in this book, including the importance of structure and pacing of a story, creating a likable and empathetic hero that the majority of people..." Read more

"...have point a and point z but we need b-y still and this book helps with finding pacing." Read more

You have to get the paperback
5 out of 5 stars
You have to get the paperback
If you’ve been writing fiction for any length of time, you’ve probably heard about Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat series of books. They’re books that were originally written to help screenwriters improve their craft, but became quite popular among writers of many creative disciplines because they provide a very accurate, concise, and some would even say easy plot model. As you know, constructing a plot from nothing can be difficult. These books, especially the first one, provide a way to do so without inducing paralyzing anxiety. I dare say that they’re a necessity for every writer who wants to get published.What’s In Save the Cat?A tabby cat dangling from a rope, with the words "Save the Cat: the Last Book on Screenwriting That You'll Ever Need" above it.In Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting That You’ll Ever Need, Snyder describes 15 “beats” or benchmarks that every plot needs to have, no matter the medium it’s displayed in. Whether words or moving pictures are used to tell a story, it should always start with an opening image and progress throughTheme StatedSet-upCatalystDebateBreak Into TwoB StoryFun and GamesMidpointBad Guys Close InAll is LostDark Night of the SoulBreak Into ThreeFinaleFinal ImageAll of these benchmarks—aptly described in the book—should lend themselves towards showing the main character doing something, being proactive. This could mean saving a cat, going with Hagrid to Hogwarts and leaving a known life behind, or undergoing a makeover to become an undercover beauty queen. It’s the essence that defines who the hero is and makes the reader like him or her.Who Would Like Save the Cat, And Why?As mentioned, anyone who’s serious about writing The Greatest Book of All Time. It’s designed, Snyder says, primarily for writers who intend to pitch/query agents in mainstream movie-making and publishing. I think that’s because it’s based on the premise that you’ll use one- to two-sentence descriptions of each of those beats to pitch to agents. Although there are many, many plot models out there—three-act structure, hero’s journey, dramatica, etc.—this is the one I’ve found to be the easiest and smoothest. It’s a compromise between totally outlining and just “pantsing” it: enough structure (and the right kind of it) to get your story started, but not so much that it overwhelms your creativity before you even start writing a book. It’s also very helpful in showing the main character proactively progressing through the book’s plot, not just reacting to various crises.Find the full review of this book, as well as many other writerly advice posts, at HeadOverTales.com.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2021
    I bought this book cause I've had some ideas floating around in my head that I wanted to see if I could perhaps make into a screen play. I have no formal education in screenwriting and the information I do know about writing a movie, I learned from online resources. So for a beginner like me this book was filled with TONS of useful information how I could turn a basic idea in my head into a fully fledged movie script. I was debating on which book to buy to help me get started and bought this one because every online resource I looked at, all of them mentioned this book. Some people bashed it but I think that's cause they're more advanced writers and have their own formula for coming up with the structure for a movie.
    What I like about this book is that it takes out the guess work for you. It lays out a structured outline for you to follow. Snyder created what he calls the Blake Synder Beat Sheet and literally every movie I could think of follows its formula. He tells you "you should introduce your main character by this page, set the theme of the movie by this page, create a conflict by this page, etc..." Snyder also uses movies as examples, showing how they followed this tempo. He has good ideas on how to create meaningful, 3 dimensional characters and even how to create a B story that helps the main story flow better. I wouldn't have thought of any of this had I not read this book.
    What I don't like is how Snyder is sometimes a little too "by the numbers" when it comes to writing a script. He literally says the break from act 1 to act 2 HAS to happen on page 25. Not page 24, not page 26 but on page 25. I don't agree with that. While you obviously don't want it to come too early or too soon, I don't see a need for it to happen on exactly page 25 of every single script ever written. He goes to make it sound like the big wigs at studios reading your script will toss it in the garbage if they don't find it on page 25. That's simply not true and I feel like it's forcing people to pace THEIR story at HIS speed.
    He also goes on to bash other great movies cause they didn't follow HIS pace. This guys claim to fame is writing Disneys "Blank Check" mind you. I don't believe in making others look bad to make yourself look good and that's kind of what he does for a bit in the book. He disses movies like Dantes Peak, Memento, Along Came Polly, etc.. but raves about other mediocre movies like 4 Christmases and miss congeniality cause they followed his cookie cutter methods.
    So to sum it up, I'm glad I bought this book because I did learn a lot by reading it. I definitely feel more confident in writing my script now and figuring out how to fill in the blanks when I wasn't sure in what direction the story should go in. While I don't think his "by the numbers" method is ideal for every script, it does help me know how to set my own pace for my own movie so I don't get carried away with one act of the story over the other. If your a beginner like me and are looking for a little guidance on how to create a story, this book is a great help!
    43 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2008
    Anytime someone can write a book and present ideas in a fresh way, then that book is helpful and worth a look. This book is a fast read and entertaining. There's a few ideas in here that I haven't seen expressed in the same way before. The entire concept of saving the cat is not a very new one, but Synder makes a better point out of the concept here. Your hero needs to do something that tells us something about him, okay, got it. Here, Synder gives that theory a name, the Save the Cat scene. His theories are clearly and insightfully expressed and he has a direct friendly way of talking to the reader with a bit of comedy. This all adds up to a quick and fun read.
    Another thing to keep in mind is that some people are totally against any type of formula writing. If you're one of those writers stay away from this book. Remember that the formula is not to help structure the story itself, rather it's to structure the pacing. Believe it or not movies have a very tried and true structure and if you want to break out of that mold you better just start ramming your head into a brick wall because you have a better chance of busting through that wall than the Hollywood wall with your spec. I once asked a professor about a poem we were studying, how much of the poem was by chance and how much was by design. He frowned and said "nothing, it's all his design."
    And another thing, remember that your goal as a spec screenplay writer is to get something sold! That's it! Why the hell are you worried about it getting made and people ruining your beautiful work of art? You can do whatever you want to do with my 120 pages AFTER I get my check for half a mil! Can any of you out there really say that M. Night is a good writer? Hell no! But for the millions of people that didn't see the end coming in the Sixth Sense (a movie that had about 6 plot lines, one of which didn't start until act 3!) those are the ones going to see his next opus of crap and that's why his stuff sales. What about Akiva Goldsman? Look up that one on IMDB and you'll be scratching your head. How can anyone survive after Batman and Robin (it's because of what came before BTW)??!! Sell something, then worry about it getting made, then worry about the fact that Synder has only had two movies ever made. He's sold 13!!! 'nuff said! How many Goldsmans (13), Goldmans (30), or Koepps (24) (all those numbers are produced) do you think Hollywood has? After all that go here: [...] and have a laugh about the writers strike.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Karine
    5.0 out of 5 stars Uma excelente dica para qualquer tipo de roteirista ou escritor
    Reviewed in Brazil on January 4, 2023
    Enquanto o foco de Save the Cat! são os roteiros de cinema, Blake Snyder dá muitas dicas importantíssimas sobre a estrutura e elementos de um bom enredo que podem ser aplicadas em qualquer área com ênfase em criação de histórias e personagens. Seja você escritor de livros, roteirista de quadrinhos, teatro ou qualquer outra coisa, encontrará um verdadeiro baú do tesouro a cada página lida!
  • Avid Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book - Written by a Writer Who Actually Sold a Couple $1M Scripts in Hollywood
    Reviewed in Canada on November 9, 2021
    The original Save the Cat is a great place to start when learning how to write scripts. The STC 15 point story outline applies to almost all successful commercial movies.

    However, what makes the plot structure method really come home is through analyzing movies. The Save the Cat Goes to the Movies book comes with 50 plot breakdowns which teaches you how important and relevant the method truly is. A perfect example of "show don't tell" teaching.

    STC an excellent book and can stand alone, but you will get even more out the methods taught by Blake Snyder if you get The original Save the Cat (STC) book is a great place to start when learning how to write scripts. The STC 15 point story outline applies to almost all successful commercial movies.

    However, what makes the plot structure method really come home is through analyzing movies. The Save the Cat Goes to the Movies book comes with 50 plot breakdowns which teaches you how important and relevant the method truly is. A perfect example of "show don't tell" teaching.

    STC goes to movies is an excellent book and can stand alone, but you will get even more out the methods taught by Blake Snyder if you get STC Goes to the Movies as well. The first is the theory, the second is applied theory by example.

    Note: Blake Snyder sold multiple $1 million dollar scripts in his working career - working with celebrities like Steven Spielberg and Sylvester Stallone.
  • Johan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book... just not for beginners
    Reviewed in Mexico on October 16, 2021
    Save the cat is an amazing book if you're looking for some amazing "Add on" to your existent repertoire of tools and screenwriting insight, specially if you are looking to sell your script... or just write something that not only you and your friends want to watch.
    I loved this book... but if you're looking for a guide that tells you step by step how to write... you'd better look somewhere else. Come back for this one later tho!
  • Tralex
    1.0 out of 5 stars Don’t buy
    Reviewed in Sweden on May 9, 2024
    Your don’t need this
  • Emiliano
    5.0 out of 5 stars Grande libro!
    Reviewed in Italy on April 12, 2024
    Scritto in modo assolutamente piacevole, chiaro ed estremamente utile. Veramente pratico e preciso. Per me, un "must".

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