Lately I’ve been on a reading kick and Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder is definitely one of my favorite finds by far. Not only is this book extremely informative and practical but it’s just plain FUN to read. It’s definitely one I’ll want to keep on my bookshelf for regular rereads.
Today we’re going to look at 8 informative “laws” from Save the Cat! that will guide and enrich our writing.
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First a quick intro: Save the Cat! is by Blake Snyder and is subtitled “The Last Guide on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need.”
“Now hold up,” you’re saying. “I thought we were talking about writing novels?”
You’re right, we are. And that’s just how GREAT this book is, that even though it was written directed at screenwriters it just contains so much goodness that it’s worth everyone reading.
In this book, Snyder brings us years of experience and a comprehensive understanding of what makes stories work (and not work). Whether our stories take place on screen or in novels, the lessons remain true.
Obviously there are some items in the book that aren’t relevant to novel writers. Feel free to check out the Novel Writing adaption of the book if you want a more directly applicable approach.
And now, onward to our laws! These are taken from the end of the book after Snyder goes over pacing, structure, and other critical story info as well as stories of his own experiences. (So definitely check the book out, it’s worth the time!)
8 Laws From Save The Cat!
1- Save the Cat
This is the namesake of the book so it must be important! 😉
- This law states that we need to make the hero likable or relatable in some way- the audience needs to connect with them. One way to do this is for them to do something kind early on (such as saving a cat) for us to see an example of their good character.
2- Pope In The Pool
(Snyder has a great explanation of the title of this law.)
- This law is that exposition must be delivered in an interesting manner. One great way to do this is to have a humorous or strange distraction occurring at the same time as the backstory to help us overlook the info-dump.
3- Double Mumbo Jumbo
- This law is that magic must be explained and not overused. Readers will accept one set of magic but too much will break the suspension of disbelief that we are creating. In our stories this means we need to think carefully about what “magic” (or science fiction or aliens or vampires etc etc) we are introducing in our world and make sure it follows its own rules and doesn’t cross into the absurd… unless that’s what we’re going for I suppose.
4- Laying Pipe
- This law is that we need to keep the introductions and setup short. Our readers don’t want to read 100 pages about our world before anything happens in it. Complex worldbuilding and character backstories can be awesome if they are handled well. We must find ways to start the story quickly and show the complexity of our world as we go.
5- Too Much Marzipan
- This law is that we don’t want to overdo it. Like marzipan, sometimes a little bit of sweetness can go a long way. But if we get carried away and put every cool story concept we’ve ever thought of into one story, well then our story will be confusing and unfocused and we’re going to have something that is too sweet for its own good.
6- Watch Out For That Glacier!
- This law says that danger needs to be present and active in our stories. The big bad guy cannot be moving as slow as a glacier because that’s just not exciting and won’t hold our readers’ attention. The stakes need to be big and they need to be in danger.
7- Covenant of the Arc
- This law is that every character needs to change, except for the bad guys. Character arc is definitely important! And a sign of a good story is when it impacts all of the characters.
8- Keep the Press Out!
- This law states that we must be very cautious about bringing the press into our stories. This is because when we show the press in our story we’re coming close to breaking the story magic and it flirts with the 4th wall. So it can be done, we just need to be careful.
And there you have it, Blake Snyder’s 8 laws from Save the Cat. I hope they will enrich your writing!
If you’re looking for a good book to read I’d highly recommend tracking this one down, or you can take a peek at some of my recommended books for writers.
Happy reading and writing!
How about you? Which of these laws do you want to work on improving in your own writing these days?
Thanks very interesting blog!