Review: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Save the Cat series of books is aimed primarily at screenwriters, but in this case Jessica Brody has reworked the formula for novel writing.

The book, as befits one concerned about plot, is well-structured, with sections designed for easy reference after the initial read-through. At its core, Brody puts forward that there are 10 core plots that are used in pretty much all successful stories (note that this success is oriented toward readers more than critics, hence the inclusion of novels that have received what some might call unkind reviews, such as Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.

In the first chapter Brody describes how we are wired to respond to certain types of stories and covers the usual concerns over “How can I be daring and original if I’m following a strict plot outline?” by saying nothing is really original, but all authors have their own voices and style that separate them from other writers.

The next ten chapters are devoted to an explanation of the specific plot type, covering three essential requirements for each, followed by a “beat sheet” (beats are a big thing in the Save the Cat world) for a specific novel, explaining how it conforms to the particular plot type in question. This is followed by an even more precise summary of the beat sheet, handy for quick reference.

The final chapter is a general set of common questions Brody has addressed in related workshops, along with answers, ranging from the basics of “Where do I start?” to handling multiple narratives. Brody also provides templates on a website that serve as virtual corkboards for plotting (for those who don’t want to use actual corkboards). In all, the information is detailed, but presented in a light, informal style that will be easily accessible to young or new writers, as well as those who have yet to plot their way out of the proverbial wet paper bag.

You can get an idea of the tone of the book by observing some of the plot types discussed:

  • Whydunnit
  • Dude with a Problem
  • Buddy Love
  • Monster in the House

All of this may sound very rigid–and it is. Brody does allow that some bending of the rules may be allowed, but that overall these plots, their associated acts, scenes, and overall beats, must be followed to achieve the effect they are meant to have on that primitive part of our brain that responds so well to structured tales.

If you believe in the power of plotting, this is an excellent primer on how to write a novel using any of the ten specific plots discussed. As Brody mentions, it also works well for those trying to fix a work in progress.

For new writers or those who have a tendency to send their initially sound novels upon the rocky shoals of “I don’t know what happens next”, this is recommended.

P.S. “Save the cat” is a reference to how an unlikable main character should do something to show they have a good side or some merit, such as…saving a cat.

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Run 646: Technically running

Run 646
Average pace: 6:08/km
Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW)
Start: 11:49 am
Distance: 5.02 km
Time: 30:49
Weather: Cloudy
Temp: 7ºC
Humidity: 66%
Wind: strong
BPM: 162
Weight: 169.8 pounds
Total distance to date: 4840 km
Devices: Apple Watch Series 5, iPhone 8
Shoes: Saucony Switchback ISO (200 km)

Although I have run and done many walks on the treadmill since acquiring it in early December 2019, it’s been awhile since I’ve done a run outdoors. A large chunk of this has been due to having the flu and then almost immediately getting a cold as follow up.

Today I finally headed back to Burnaby Lake for the first time since December 29th, just over two months ago. Yikes.

The weather was a bit brisk (in fact, three degrees cooler than it was in late December) so I wore two layers, which was a smart choice, especially with a somewhat strong breeze also blowing.

I started out slow to keep myself from tiring out quickly, but that turned out to be a formality, as slow is the only speed I could achieve. The back half of the run felt not exactly like a slog, but slog-like. I kept moving. I was glad when it was over. I surprised myself by actually finding the energy to run a bit afterwards on the way back home.

The pace of 6:08/km is very slow but unsurprising, given the long layoff. Oddly, my BPM remained exactly the same as the last run, a bit up there at 162 but well below a level that I would be uncomfortable with. I did not think about my knees at all during the run and only thought of them briefly on the walk out as I felt the entirety of both legs start to stiffen and get sore in real time.

I expect the soreness to persist through tomorrow.

The trail itself was mostly dry, but sections are still in terrible shape, with parts collapsed and marked by traffic cones, others hastily patched up and the usual boggy parts by the fields requiring fancy footwork to avoid the feet getting mud and water-soaked.

Because it was the weekend and not raining, a decent number of people were out. One dog was kind of snippy toward me and another jogger. I didn’t notice so much because the music blocked out its yapping and it was low enough to be mostly out of my field of vision. I did turn back and see it going after the jogger that passed me in the other direction. Dumb dog (owner).

As always when you encounter multiple groups of people on the trail, some seem unaware that others are in fact using the trail, too. Fortunately I never had too much trouble moving around them, but the baffling inability handle interaction with others in a public space will always continue to annoy me. I try to not let it, but it does.

A mystery of sorts emerged just as I was heading out from the lake. My right hip suddenly became sore. It felt fine on the run and the 5K walk out of the lake, so I’m not sure why it turned on me long after the fact. Maybe it’s a trick hip now. I don’t like tricks. It seems mostly fine now.

Overall, this was not a bad run after more than 60 days off. I was tired, but never felt gross and wanting the suffering to end like nothing else in the world. I just kept going and going and then was done. I’ll try to run again next weekend and see how it compares.

Lousy Smarch weather

Actually, it’s pretty nice out right now, if a bit cool, I just wanted to get the ball rolling for posting in March and went with a random Simpsons reference.

February shmebruary

This month started out with a fizzle, but is ending on a mostly better note, or series of notes:

  • My weight is down. Yay.
  • I am exercising again. Also yay.
  • I think I’m sleeping better in general.
  • My writing is…well, more on that below.
  • Work is [redacted]

On the poop side of things, my writing has gained no traction at all, whether it be fiction or this blog. I fell way behind on my usual one-post-per-day average, just as I did last month, and despite a few posts today, I will still come up short, unless I post ten haikus or something. I’m pretty sure I won’t do that.

I have also fallen behind on my modest reading goal this year. To meet it, I need to read a book every two weeks. To date I have read three this year, so I’m one behind. This is due to a combination of wanting to veg out during my commute and often not getting a seat because the [redacted for adult language] SkyTrain car will be standing room only at 6:30 in the [redacted] morning. It’s insane. I get on at the fourth stop on the Expo line. After my stop, Sapperton, there are 16 more. I’m pretty sure it’s SRO by the second station, Lougheed. It’s silly. Does everyone work in downtown Vancouver? Yes. Yes, they do.

For the writing, I’m not sure what to say. I think about it, sometimes I start, but nothing much happens. The latest book on writing (I’ve read oodles of them now) has the author assert there is no such thing as writer’s block and technically that’s true. Unless you are in a coma or otherwise physically incapable, you can always write if you have some time. So it’s not that I can’t write, I just don’t. And I’m not entirely sure why, because I’ve read some of my stuff recently and while I’m not trying to toot my horn (heh heh), I quite like some of it and think I should write more.

And maybe I will. Soon. I do actually have some additional thoughts on this and will spill them out of my head in another post.

(I’m not talking about work on a public blog. You’ll need the key to my heart diary to find out more about that.)

Treadmill walk: Day 4 of more

I wasn’t sure I was going to do a workout today. It’s Saturday and without a run scheduled (I’m doing one tomorrow) the default is to be a bit on the lazy side. I did do a fair bit of walking and actually hit both my exercise and move goals by late afternoon. But still, I wanted to get a little more…

So at 9 p.m. (yes, my earliest time this week yet!) I got on the treadmill and did 30 minutes at the usual settings.

I definitely felt perkier starting but with about five minutes to go my arms started feeling like spaghetti (this may sound weird, since you run with your legs, not your arms, but the speed and inclination I use on the treadmill for my walks requires me to hold on to avoid flying off) and my legs even felt just slightly wobbly. But I persisted and finished and as you can see by the stats below, I improved a bit in every area, especially in BPM. This is good and I am pleased.

Tomorrow: Running. Outside. Yikes.

Speed: 6.5 km/h
Incline: 10

Pace: 9:21/km (9:27 km/h)
Time: 30:03 (30.03)
Distance: 3.21 km (3.18 km)
Calories burned: 302 (299)
BPM: 138 (144)

February 2020 weight loss report: Down 0.9 pounds

It’s a Christmas miracle in February!

But not really. I shall explain.

The good news is that I am indeed down 0.9 pounds for the month vs. where I was at the end of January, and I did it with two fewer days in the month, too. Not only that, it also means I’m 2-2 for the year to date, which is pretty good for the winter “eat everything you can get your hands on” months.

There are a few caveats, though. The main one is that I weighed myself around 9:30 in the morning, about fours later than normal and this typically means I will weight less, due to the way my body processes food. Now, it’s true I might have weighed more anyway if I’d eaten a box of donuts before stepping on the scales, but fortunately I did not do that (I did break my donut rule, though–see below).

The other caveat–though that’s not precisely the right word here–is that my body fat has been climbing of late. In part this is expected, as you can shed weight faster than the overall body fat of your body, meaning that you can go down in weight, but the overall percentage of your now-thinner body that is fat actually increases (temporarily) and that’s where I’m at now.

Anyway, I ate a giant jelly donut yesterday (they were a special end of month treat at work), was trending up in weight for the last three days and still went down, so I’m sticking to Christmas miracle in February.

February 1: 171.5 pounds
February 29: 169.6 pounds (down 0.9 pounds)

Year to date: From 171.8 to 169.6 pounds (down 2.2 pounds)

And the body fat:

February 1: 21.6% (36.7 pounds of fat)
February 29: 21.9% (37.2 pounds of fat) (up 0.5 pounds)

Treadmill walk: Third time is not the charm

Yes, for a ridiculous third night in a row, I jumped on the treadmill for a 30 minute workout. I started even earlier tonight–just before 10 p.m.

But today was physically tiring (a little) and mentally tiring (a lot), so I wasn’t feeling as peppy as last night. The results clearly show this.

Also, my finger slipped a bit on the button that controls the incline, so I had it set to 11 instead of 10 for about the first 20 minutes. This may have slowed me down a bit more than otherwise. But I was still just slow.

Still, I’m glad I did it, as exercising is now becoming a routine again, which is where I want it. I am planning to actually run outside for the first time in a hundred years this weekend. Both days currently look amendable, so I may flip a coin–as soon as I find one.

The stats, with last night’s results in brackets. Note how terrible the pace is. Even my best km at 9:19/km was still slower than my overall pace last night. The tank was clearly empty tonight. On the other hand, I burned more calories–because I put on more than a pound of weight overnight. 😛

Speed: 6.5 km/h
Incline: 11 (20 minutes), 10 (10 minutes)

Pace: 9:27/km (9:14 km/h)
Time: 30:03 (30.04)
Distance: 3.18 km (3.25 km)
Calories burned: 299 (288)
BPM: 144 (143)

Another late night walk in the…room

For an amazing second night in a row I decided to do a workout on the treadmill. I started out a bit pokey (maybe the music was distracting me?) but picked up the pace for the second and third km, and overall felt much peppier than before. Unsurprisingly, my BPM was also higher, but still not too high.

As a special treat (??) I changed the incline from 10 to 12 for the last two minutes. My heart rate immediately jumped by about four, then started settling back down. I could actually feel the increase in the incline, which was a little weird. The treadmill goes up to 15, so 12 is getting pretty steep.

Stats, with the previous workout in brackets:

Speed: 6.5 km/h
Incline: 10

Pace: 9:14/km (9:17 km/h)
Time: 30:04 (30.08)
Distance: 3.25 km (3.24 km)
Calories burned: 288 (294)
BPM: 143 (139)

Treadmill walk: Sponsored by guilt

Even though I am mostly recovered from the cold, it still persists in annoying, lingering ways, such as an occasional cough and a still-present feeling of (light) congestion in the chest. Maybe I was using this subconsciously as an excuse to not exercise, but it’s still an excuse.

So tonight, just shy of 10:30 p.m., I got on the treadmill and did a half hour workout with the usual settings.

Results, with previous workout in brackets below. Of note, my pace was a bit sluggish, but this probably helped my BPM to be a bit lower, too. I felt like I recovered faster, too. Overall a bit meh, but at least I did some exercise.

Speed: 6.5 km/h
Incline: 10

Pace: 9:17/km (9:09 km/h)
Time: 30:08 (30.05)
Distance: 3.24 km (3.28 km)
Calories burned: 294 (301)
BPM: 139 (142)

Photo of the Day, Feb. 23, 2020

I have been lazy about posting shots to my blog because Instagram makes it so easy. Maybe I should look for an Instagram-to-WordPress plugin.

In the meantime, this shot was actually taken on Feb. 20th. Sunrise at Sapperton Station. The blue lights in the sky are likely just glitches on the camera lens…or the start of a UFO invasion.

Sunrise at Sapperton station.

Inktober 2016 in February 2020

I finally decided to start drawing again because drawing is relaxing and I need to relax more. I chose to return to what got me (temporarily) rolling again–Inktober!

You might note that it is now February. This is correct. But I didn’t take part in the first three Inktobers, so I’ve decided to start with the first set of prompts from 2016. I won’t necessarily post one per day, but I’ll try, because the quick turnaround is part of the fun.

The one thing I am doing differently this time is featuring Gum Gum People in not just some, but ALL of the prompts. 31 days of Gum Gum People. Hee hee, as they would say.

Here’s the first prompt from Inktober 2016, FAST.

FAST

Treadmill miracle walk

The miracle is that after a day of coughing, feeling generally sick and above all else, indolent, I actually got on the treadmill tonight and did a half hour workout.

I did not cough once during the workout.

I started coughing immediately after completing the workout.

I also noticed my heart rate was much slower than normal to recover. Not that it was crazy high or anything, it just took a few minutes longer than usual to get back below 100 (which is the arbitrary point I’ve chosen for when I stop the treadmill and get off…the treadmill).

The stats in brackets are from my previous walk, just a little over a week ago, completed during the small window between the bad flu and the bad cold. As you can see, everything is slightly worse, but actually not too bad considering the coughing, congestion and general unwellness I continue to experience.

Here’s to a healthier week. At least it is mercifully one day shorter than normal.

Speed: 6.5 km/h
Incline: 10

Pace: 9:09/km (9:06 km/h)
Time: 30:05 (30.04)
Distance: 3.28 km (3.30 km)
Calories burned: 301 (298)
BPM: 142 (140)