Save the Cat! Strikes Back

Last year, I reviewed the first in the Save the Cat! series by Blake Snyder. This time I'm reviewing the third and last book in the series called Save the Cat! Strikes Back. (I'll explain why I didn't buy the second one in a bit.)The series was recommended by the fabulous author and writing instructor, Les Edgerton.Years ago I took a screenwriting class, not because I wanted to write for Hollywood, but because I could see that the pace and structure of books was becoming more "movie-like." I wanted to learn how screenplays were structured. This third book, like my copy of the first, is now part yellow from all the highlighting I did. It is full of advice that you can easily apply to your writing.For example, here is some of what Snyder said about Loglines:The template: On the verge of a Stasis = Death moment, a flawed protagonist Breaks into Two; but when the Midpoint happens, he/she must learn the Theme Stated, before All is Lost.You might read that and go, huh? But Snyder goes on to explain what each bolded word or phrase means. When you finish reading his explanation and example, you go, Ah-ha.Here's another quote that you already know, but when I read it, I paused and thought, of course. All stories are about transformation.Writers always talk about the dreaded Elevator Speech where you are called upon to pitch your book within a minute. If you're interviewing at a conference, you may get ten minutes. For scripts, it's called simply The Pitch. Snyder shares a Guide that came from one of his students, Betty Ryan: 1. Opening Image - A brief "who" of the hero 2. Catalyst - The thing that sets the story in motion 3. Break into Two - The essence of the story and poster 4. Midpoint - The complication that challenges the hero 5. All is Lost - How the hero loses everything 6. Break into Three - The solution to the hero's dilemma 7. Final Image - How he is transformed by this storyThe book is great, in my opinion, for both scriptwriters and bookwriters. Of course, a class with Blake Snyder would be fabulous and very intense, but we won't get that opportunity since he passed away in 2009.

I don't know why so many people like to @#$# on "formula" and "structure" but if you want to write a screenplay, or craft a story of any kind (TV, FILM, Novel, etc) that appeals to a wide audience or a particular one, then you need to know how to how to take people on what Blake calls the "emotional wheel".We read or watch these stories because it is true and relatable to real life. The "art" comes in the subtlety and way we tell these stories. What happens in our lives is exactly what occurs in good movies and television shows. You may not think this makes any sense but after reading Blake's books, you will know exactly what I'm getting at.I don't know who invented this but the old Hollywood/writing adage is true:No story is told. It is only retold.I've written up a 146 page screenplay for my movie, and after shooting 2 scenes of it, I've gotten some good feedback from it. This is despite all my technical problems with cinematography, people thought my few scenes were funny. Which is great because it's suppose to be a comedy, so I'm on the right track.Everyone thought something else was funny, the mark of a great movie when everyone with very different and unique personalities can look at the same thing and come away from it with very different interpretations, and still laugh.I have only God and Blake Snyder to thank for this. Read Blake's book, craft your story, and keep trying. Writing can be a lot of fun, but it's also tough. Good luck, and I look forward to see your stuff, out there!

Let me put it this way: if not for this book, I could never have completed the Dream Job that fell into my lucky little lap by my deadline! I needed to write a screenplay based on an idea my friend had, and the really terrible first draft written by someone else based on that idea. I never wrote a feature screenplay - just one novel and a couple of short indie screenplays so far - but accepted the challenge and hit the books. This was the third book on screenwriting that I purchased and studied while writing, and this is worth every penny. It was with a long sigh of sad that I read the author passed away, but he left an enormous legacy behind for us to utilize and appreciate. This book is worth the price for the Screenplay beat tree diagram alone. Just my opinion, of course, but as I wrote and compared my story flow to the chart, it was amazing how true it proved! The author was also very encouraging to new writers, which made this a pleasant, rather than dry read.

I cannot award Blake Snyder's swan song, SAVE THE CAT! STRIKES BACK, all five stars -- but only because it hasn't led me to a successful screenplay sale, yet. But as far as advice for the writer goes, no one delivers it with more more common-sense practicality or genuine altruism than Blake Snyder. For someone like me, who needs things planned out in advance and wants to know the intricate details of a task before setting out to accomplish it, Snyder's third book satisfyingly clarifies and elaborates on the principles set forth in his original SAVE THE CAT! writing guide. But what I appreciate more about this volume are the personal revelations Snyder shares with the reader. He goes into detail about his own shortcomings and the obstacles and defeats that littered his path on the way to a successful -- albeit behind-the-scenes -- career in screenwriting. I found this "colleague-to-colleague"/"friend-to-friend" advice more valuable than a dozen scathing Robert McKee lectures. It's not touchy-feely garbage, either; while Snyder reassures the fledgling writer that a career in writing is NOT unattainable -- it can be done -- he's also grounded enough to remind one that a writing career is not for everybody, and if you enjoy doing another job just as much, you should probably do that instead.For the storytelling suggestions as well as the brotherly advice, this book is worthwhile reading for the writer.

I read all the screenwriting books. This one was, as usual from "Save the Cat", a good workmanlike approach. It helps those who don't write screenplays to understand structure and 'what is supposed to happen when'. Although this isn't an approach that works for everyone, I think it's valuable for most tv or screenwriters.

Ok

The night I began reading this book was one of those I couldnt sleep.It was unbelievable.the most perfect.

It was like he was in the room talking to me, guiding me and showing me how to fix the faults in my scripts. Loved it

Si vous avez lu le premier tome inutile d'attendre une révolution, mais simplement de nouveaux conseils pertinents sur le BS2 et les basiques à éviter.Utile mais pas indispensable