“Save the Cat!” by Blake Snyder was originally written as a tool for screenwriters. Snyder presents a structure for successful storytelling that has been adapted for use by novelists as well as the original audience. Now his work has been reimagined as a video course.
The idea behind STC is simple: There are elements that are necessary to create an effective story. Snyder lays out these elements as “beats.” Think of it as a blueprint for story. The 15 beats are:
- Opening Image
- Theme Stated
- Set-Up
- Catalyst
- Debate
- Break Into Two
- B Story
- Fun and Games
- Midpoint
- Bad Guys Close In
- All is Lost
- Dark Night of the Soul
- Break Into Three
- Finale
- Final Image
What happens in some of those beats may seem obvious, and you will discover how the STC beats apply to familiar stories. Then, the course walks you through all 15 beats and shows how to use them to structure a story that readers will love. The lessons total more than three hours of video instruction, along with written handouts and worksheets to help you implement the system and build your story. You go step-by-step through creating a solid structure for your novel (or screenplay).
The Save the Cat system is perfect for you if you are planning your next novel, but it can also be used to troubleshoot a story that is already written. You probably know the feeling of completing a novel and knowing that something is missing, even if you can’t quite put your finger on it. With Save the Cat, you can pinpoint the problem spots in your story and polish your novel until it shines!
For more information about the Save the Cat video course, and to view a sample lesson, go to https://www.savethecatcourses.com/courses/cracking-the-beat-sheet
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