Save the Cat!

By: Blake Snyder

Narrated by: George Newbern

Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's Summary

Here's what started the phenomenon: This book has been a best seller for over 15 years and has been used by screenwriters around the world! Blake Snyder tells all in this fast, funny, and candid look inside the movie business. Save the Cat is just one of many ironclad rules for making your ideas more marketable and your script more satisfying. Others include these: 

• The four elements of every winning logline 
• The seven immutable laws of screenplay physics 
• The 10 genres that every movie ever made can be categorized by - and why they're important to your script 
• Why your hero must serve your idea 
• Mastering the 15 beats 
• Creating the perfect beast by using the board to map 40 scenes with conflict and emotional change 
• How to get back on track with proven rules for script repair 

This ultimate insider's guide reveals the secrets that none dare admit, told by a show biz veteran who's proven that you can sell your script if you can save the cat.

©2005 Blake Snyder (P)2018 Dreamscape Media, LLC

overall really good advice

I had heard about this book from many people with stealer reviews and it lives up to the expectation. The writer gives solid advice to build a screenwriting foundation off of but there are a lot of rules I think could be more flexible that the writer insist are concrete. Overall would 100% recommend to aspiring screenwriters.

little full of himslef but is very helpful.

Has helpful tips if you cant figure out why somthing isnt working or dialog is lacking he gives you some nice tools to use. overall its a good one to read!

Nothing special

Honestly, i think the book is quite mediocre. I didn't find it particularly useful nor did i learn very much from it. Great narration, though.

Great how to book on writing

I read Save the Cat about 5 years ago and loved it. This is a great book for writers and especially for screenwriters. The narrator George Newbern did a great job with Blake Snyder's POV.

My Favorite Screenwriting Book

I've read and listened to a large number of books on screenwriting/writing. Although many of them I found helpful, this is by far my favorite. Why? It's very close to 100% usable, practical, actionable advise that makes sense and I believe works. Not only that but it's presented in a very congenial, conversational way (unlike, for example McKee's And Field's books which are so stuffy and academic it makes their books far less accessible, and difficult to even concentrate on when listening to them read).

The criticism that I often hear about this (and his other) books is that they are "cookie cutter", meaning that it's kind of a one-size-fits-all sort of approach. That is true imo, and I don't agree with all Synder's advice (he's pretty much a one-genre guy (Romantic Comedy), and it isn't the genre that I write, so some of the things he says, imo, are not that applicable to some other genres (like Sci Fi and Horror, which are mine), but still most of his stuff is applicable across the board, and it's certainly helped my writing, and will help yours too.

Specific and Inspiring

Very clear and concise in his writing, Blake Snyder gives a true blueprint with specific points to follow and help break up the writing process into palatable pieces.

Movie script book

I found this book to very informing. Very eye-opening to the world of screenplays and screen writing. It’s a must get if you’re into screenwriting

A Must Listen for People who love films

Fantastic listen. Packed with wisdom on the film industry. As an actor who reads scripts this has helped my understanding of tbe structure created by the screenwriter. Will listen multiple times for all the gems.

actionable advice on screen writing

I enjoyed this book and the author's ability to instruct and inspire me towers weighing and improving my screenplays.

A great insider look

I loved the insider's comment and experience that has been included in this book. I have read several books on screenwriting and this one is the most complete overview of the process.

simplistic

Explain it to me like I'm a 10 year old kind of book, although that might be the point of the whole thing...useful for someone just starting out.

Brilliant

A very well-organized book taking you through the writing process from idea to script completion. Blake Snyder gets what it's like to be a writer and has perfect ways of communicating his point to the reader. I'll always come back to this book if I'm stuck on an issue. It also helps that Superman is narrating.

Lots of practical advice and industry tips.

Having an audible version made life so much easier as I could listen on the move.

Loved it!

Full of great tips... I’ve just finished listening, and I’m just about to start again!

Believe the hype!

I have learned more from this book than I did in 3 years of screenwriting classes.

Inspirational

If you're not moved to start writing something, anything, you need to listen again, immediately!

Incredibly helpful

Really enjoyable and incredibly helpful would very much recommend to any kind of writer. I'd love to hear more.

Solid advice but occasionally dated.

structure and breakdown approach is a great way to assess your work and a good lense to view scripts through. However, the modern landscape of movies has changed massively and some of the advice has dated as a result. still a good read and fascinating approach.

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Love it so much. perfect for screenwriters and learning on the go after reading the actual book

Insight and high energy

A remarkable insight into screenwriting full of humour, empathy and great advice. Holds your attention throughout just like a great movie. He is a master of his craft. Brilliant.