R.H. Walker, Author

Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody was the first book on story structure I ever actually sat down to read, and boy howdy did it do things to me.

I understand many of the criticisms at-large of the Save the Cat method, and I agree with those that think it works better as a tool for analysis rather than a step-by-step guide to write the perfect novel. This is, I think, the case with any formula. They will produce stories that feel formulaic, but a formulaic novel does not necessarily mean a poorly executed novel.

Similar to Joseph Campbell’s work with the Hero’s Journey, the beats in Save the Cat should not necessarily be seen as prescriptive. They are observations of the pacing and the key moments of beloved stories, the gears that tick and how they mesh together. It provides a birds-eye view of many popular works, helping the reader see the shape of the forest, not just the trees before them. There are certainly authors out there who use Save the Cat like a recipe, to varying degrees of success. There are also those who use it like scaffolding, providing structure and support while finding the true shape of their story but removing it when they feel they no longer need it. It simply depends on your writing style.

It should also be noted that this book cares very little for the art or the craft of writing. This is a book about story structure and barely anything else. It is very, very focused on commercial writing, writing something that you know will sell. (To wit: one of the books Brody analyzes in StCWaN is literally one of the worst books I’ve ever read. But it follows the formula, and more importantly, it SOLD, millions of copies to date). To me this is both a blessing and a curse; I want to be able to sell my work, but I also don’t wish to become a cog in the novel machine, churning out dreck just so I can make a paycheck. Where in that spectrum each artist chooses to cast their chips is personal to all of us.

However, as I have noted before, I am someone who struggles greatly with completing work. I have benefited greatly from having the scaffolding in my mind while reading, helping me really analyze why the books I love work the way they do. I think this book is a great and well-utilized tool in any writing arsenal.