Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel by Jessica Brody is based on a famous screenplay writing book called Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder. As a published author of over 20 novels, Brody is well-versed in crafting good stories—especially Young Adult novels.
So, what does "Save the Cat" mean? For all my feline lovers, you will probably pick up this book simply because of the title (I know I didn't hesitate to click 'Buy' as soon as I saw a cat in the title and on the cover.) Clearly, my cat Coco is a fan of the book as well. Alongside being adorable and perfect for cat lovers, the title has a deeper meaning as well.
"Save the Cat" is a key element any storyteller must incorporate into their work. Brody explains this in her book: "In order to get your audience in sync with your main character, there must be something redeemable, sympathetic, or likable about them... sure, they could literally save a cat, like from a tree, a burning building, or a shelter. Or they could help an old lady cross the street, leave a big tip at a restaurant, have a sick relative who relies on them, struggle with a tragic backstory or mean-spirited guardian. The possibilities are endless" (Brody, 6).
A perfect example of this in YA is found in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Katniss begins the book on the first page with Katniss sharing about how she once tried to drown her little sister's cat, Buttercup. After her sister cried and begged Katniss to not drown her cat, Katniss decided to save the cat, thus establishing her as a sympathetic character. Cat lovers were cautious but ready to like Katniss on page one. Cat haters were maybe disappointed, but could relate to Katniss's disdain for felines. Overall, each reader felt they could relate to the main character right from the get-go, and that there is great storytelling (Brody, 6).
So, what does this mean for your story or the stories you watch, read, or listen to?
If you can't relate to the main character or view them as redeemable, sympathetic, or likable (even just a tiny bit) in the first chapter, it may not be the best story it can be. If this is your story, no worries at all. This can be worked on and addressed. You don't need to throw out your entire story. You just need to refine and intentionally think through the character and story arch.
My upcoming blogs will outline ways to do this and provide tools to help you along the way.
If you're interested in joining me in saving all the cats of the world (and writing redeemable, sympathetic, or likable characters), subscribe to my blog and purchase the world's cutest storytelling book at my Amazon Storefront by clicking the button below.
I can't wait to embark on this journey with you!
Reference:
Brody, Jessica, and Blake Snyder. Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a YA Bestseller. Ten Speed Press, 2023.
Comentarios