Out of Order Bitesize: Save the Cat (2005)

Welcome to the first bitesize edition of Out of Order Book Club! It's about half the size of our usual podcast and the aim is to take a quick look at a book that has been recommended from a listener, a book that came up in a previous podcast or a book that has been suggested in real life.

In this bitesize edition, I'll be taking a look at 'Save the Cat' by Blake Snyder, as this was recommended by multiple authors at a crime writing festival earlier this year. In this episode, I will focus on the importance of beats, wonder whether this book is useful for a new writer and go on a minor rant about mumbo jumbo and petit women in crime fiction.

You can contact Mal on Blue Sky: outoforderbookclub.bsky.social

Useful links and helpful sources:

Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody: Here's the 'Save the Cat' version that I mentioned in my prologue. It is definitely on my list and I'll definitely be doing a follow up episode about this.

Harrogate Crime Writing Festival Website: This is where I heard about 'Save the Cat' by Blake Snyder.

Oliver Harris Website: During the podcast, I kept blanking on the name of Oliver Harris' police officer character who I thought was a great example of character that 'saves the cat'. The character is Nick Belsey and I'd really recommend the series. It's certainly a series I'm considering doing an episode on since I'm 100% reading it out of order!

Save the Cat Website: Full disclosure I didn't do any research for this podcast other than read the book, as I just wanted to share my responses to it and provide my own analysis. However, afterwards I discovered there is a website with coaching etc. I don't know if this was set up by Blake Snyder, who died in 2009 but I thought I'd just share the link for the curious. This is not an endorsement. This is not advertising.

Save the Movie! by Peter Suderman (2013): This article from Slate gives you an idea of the 'controversy' or problems people see in this book. His argument, which I don't think I have enough knowledge to either agree or disagree with regarding films, is that the beat structure has actually turned screenwriting formulaic.