21.31: Deconstructing Save the Cat

Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need by Blake Snyder was published in 2005 and is widely popular because it offers a reliable, repeatable storytelling framework. Today we are joined by guest Margaret Dunlap as we attempt to answer: why Save the Cat is such an influential story structure and why so many writers have strong opinions about it. Our hosts break down Blake Snyder's 15-beat framework, exploring where it overlaps with the Hero's Journey, Three-Act Structure, and Seven-Point Plot Structure. We also highlight why tools like Save the Cat can help diagnose problems in a draft instead of dictating every story beat. Homework: Take a classic fairy tale (ideally the same one you used for the Three-Act Structure exercise, which was assigned at the end of 21.18) and map it onto the Save the Cat beat sheet. Identify where each major beat falls, including moments like the catalyst, midpoint, dark night of the soul, and finale. Show Notes Save the Cat beat sheet Spreadsheet of Different Plot Structures WAITLIST for our Final WXR Cruise! Our final WXR cruise is sold out, but you can join our waitlist here! Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, DongWon Song, and Erin Roberts. Our guest was Margaret Dunlap. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson. Join Our Writing Community! Writing Retreats Newsletter Patreon Instagram Threads Bluesky TikTok YouTube Facebook Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/excuses for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com * Check out Tin Can and use my code tincan.com/WX for a great deal: https://tincan.kids Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy