I recently decided to give scriptwriting a try and had no idea where to start. A YouTuber recommended Blake’s book and I’m so glad I picked it up. It’s reassuring having a formula to work off of, not going in this totally blind and deaf to the craft.
Halfway through reading, I learned the author had passed away, and I suddenly felt alone. Like I’d lost a mentor I never had.
When I ran the strips of scotch tape on the cork and stepped back to see the blank canvas of my first storyboard, I felt a little glad that maybe Blake was with me, a little shoulder angel, watching from afar as an optimistically energized writer dove head first.
This book is amazing.
Buy it.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
![Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need by [Blake Snyder]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/IMAGERENDERING_521856-T1/images/I/41ZA7OUXCQL._SY346_.jpg)
Follow the Author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
| Price | New from | Used from |
|
Audible Audiobook, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
$0.00
| Free with your Audible trial | |
|
Library Binding
"Please retry" | $23.67 | $20.11 |
|
Audio CD, CD, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
—
| — | — |
- Read with Our Free App
-
Audiobook
$0.00 - 25 Used from $20.11 25 New from $23.67
- 79 Used from $4.37 29 New from $10.15
Next 5 for you in this series
See full series
Total Price:
$58.60
Books In This Series (9 Books)
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Popular Highlights in this book
The number one thing a good logline must have, the single most important element, is: irony.Highlighted by 7,343 Kindle readers- The second most important element that a good logline has is that you must be able to see a whole movie in it.Highlighted by 6,241 Kindle readers
- Because liking the person we go on a journey with is the single most important element in drawing us into the story.Highlighted by 5,105 Kindle readers
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
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.
Images in this review
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 16, 2023
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 3, 2023
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 25, 2022
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 4, 2021
Top reviews from other countries
John
One of the best books on creating a story that I have read so far.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 17, 2018Dave McG.
Good for beginners
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 8, 2018lovemeslender
Check the edition date
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 24, 2022
lovemeslender
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 24, 2022
Being so old, a lot of the films that are mentioned as recent are obviously a bit out of date, as is all the talk of checking newspapers for movie listings etc. I bought this as I already had a copy of ‘save the cat writes a novel’ but as I’m studying screenwriting as part of an MA, I thought I should get this too. It’s not particularly well written or succinct - there are quite a few typos. Having said that, Blake knows his stuff and does impart it in a long winded way. Personally, I found the outdated references really off putting & the games for coming up with ideas were very basic and again felt like they needed a re write. But all the infamous ‘beats’ are here!
Having read a few screenwriting books recently I think there are better books out there, notably John Yorke’s Into the Woods. Or Trottier’s screen writing bible covers all the screenwriting how to books in one with minimal waffle (just ignore the hideous cover. Even though it looks super 1990s, it’s a 2019 edition).
Images in this review
Procrastinating Pete
An alternative pet based title could be 'The Dogs Boll*cks"
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 19, 2018
Procrastinating Pete
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 19, 2018
Beat sheet adds the structure to your screenplays. I now have 3 boards 90 cm x 55 cm hung on doors to use for screenwriting.
Images in this review
Wood Gnome
Screenwriters need this on their bookshelf
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 20, 2017
