My New Save the Cat! Book – Everything You Need to Know!

Everything you need to know about Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel

It’s here! Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel is now out in the world and in this post, I’m thrilled to share all the juicy details. Are you ready? Let’s dive in!

First off…

There’s a new Save the Cat book?

Yup, in case you haven’t heard, there’s a new Save the Cat! book on the shelf!

So, what is it all about? Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel takes the renowned Save the Cat! storytelling methodology (yes, the same one presented in Save the Cat! Writes a Novel) and applies it specifically to the realm of Young Adult fiction.

Yes, you read that correctly—an entire book dedicated to using Save the Cat! for writing Young Adult novels. However, I want to emphasize that this book isn’t exclusively for YA novelists. Writers of any age group or genre can derive significant value from it, as you’ll soon discover. So, stay tuned!

Why a YA version?

Now, you might be wondering, why did I feel the need to create a YA version in the first place? Didn’t the original novel-writing book already include plenty of YA examples?

While it’s true that the original book did feature some YA examples, the lens through which we approach young adult stories is distinctly unique. Having written over fifteen YA novels in my career, I can confidently say that YA is a novel-writing beast of its own and deserves a dedicated guide. This allows us to delve deep into the study of story structure using exclusively young adult examples.

For example…

What does a Catalyst look like in a YA novel?

What are the wants, needs, and problems of teenage heroes?

How do we escalate the stakes at the Midpoint of a YA novel?

How are the beats customized in YA fiction?

These are all questions I set out to answer in this new guide.

YA novels showcase some of the most structurally complex and well-written stories on bookshelves today. In this book, I break down some of the most successful examples while also providing guidance on plotting your very own YA masterpieces.

“I don’t write YA. So I don’t need this book, right?”

Well…let’s see.

I firmly believe that the best way to learn anything, especially storytelling, is through examples. When we witness the 15 beats in action repeatedly, they start to click. That’s precisely why I consistently incorporate new examples in my webinars and online courses. I know that one of those examples will trigger that “aha” moment for a writer, helping them unravel the intricacies of their own story.

The more we analyze story structure in various novels, the easier it becomes to structure our own work. It’s as simple as that.

So, even if you don’t write YA, you can still gain immense knowledge from the plethora of new examples I’ve analyzed and broken down in this book. It features 10 new full-length beat sheets that offer valuable insights.

For instance, if you’re writing a multiple POV novel and seek guidance on how to weave multiple heroes into your beat sheet, you’ll find immense value in the beat sheets for Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows, Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone, and Karen M. McManus’s One of Us is Lying. These three exceptional multiple POV novels are showcased in the book.

Likewise, if you’re crafting a narrative with extensive flashbacks and desire guidance on seamlessly integrating them into your story, the full beat sheet for Gayle Forman’s If I Stay serves as an excellent study resource.

Apart from the new examples, I’ve included a wealth of fresh insights about the Save the Cat! method that I’ve gathered since writing the last book. These insights encompass novel ways to approach the beats, alternative perspectives on structure, detailed explanations of key strategies, and methods to customize the beats to suit your unique story. My hope is that all of this will inspire you, help overcome any plotting obstacles, and generate those pivotal “aha” moments that enable you to tell your story even better.

Is there new content that’s not in the first book?

Absolutely! There is indeed new content in this book that wasn’t covered in Save the Cat! Writes a Novel.

First and foremost…

Customizing Your Beat Sheet Chapter

Since the release of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, I’ve received numerous inquiries from writers seeking ways to customize the 15 beats to better suit their stories. They’ve asked about incorporating multiple points of view, prologues, flashbacks, backstory, villain stories, and even Catalysts that occur on the first page!

Many of these aspects weren’t extensively addressed in the first book, if at all. Hence, in this new book, I’ve dedicated an entire chapter called “Customizing Your Beat Sheet.” Consider it an “advanced beat sheet” chapter where you can build upon the foundational knowledge presented in the Save the Cat! Beat Sheet chapter and make it your own. Once again, I analyze and break down numerous examples from authors who put their creative spin on basic story structure, allowing us to learn from their successes and find inspiration.

And the addition that I’m particularly excited about is…

Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult SERIES chapter!

Your requests have been heard and answered! In this book, I provide an in-depth exploration of series writing, unlike anything I’ve done before. I show you how the Save the Cat! method, along with the 15 beats, can assist you in structuring, planning, and writing a compelling series. And yes, you guessed it—this chapter is filled with more examples!

Which novels are featured in the book?

Aha! The moment of reveal! These are the ten YA novels whose full beat sheets are showcased in Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel.

For the Rites of Passage genre, you’ll have the opportunity to delve into the full 15-beat breakdown of Jenny Han’s heartwarming coming-of-age story, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Contemporary novelists, don’t miss this one! It’s a fantastic example of a character-driven story with a compelling premise and an inspiring character arc. Pay special attention to its five-point finale, as crafting one in a character-driven story isn’t always a simple feat.

In the Buddy Love genre, I’ve chosen to analyze John Green’s masterpiece, The Fault in Our Stars. Romance novelists, take note—this is a must-read. Green’s pitch-perfect narrative, combined with stellar plotting, creates a memorable story that flawlessly incorporates all 15 beats. But beware the All is Lost and bring tissues (if you know, you know).

To explore the Institutionalized genre, we dive into Lois Lowry’s Newbery-winning novel, The Giver. This book may be short, but it packs a powerful punch. If you want to study dystopian worldbuilding alongside flawless structure, this is your guide. Pay attention to how Lowry handles a longer-than-average Setup beat and juggles the beats to accommodate it, all while maintaining compelling pages until the Catalyst beat arrives slightly later than usual.

Now, let’s move on to the Superhero genre. Tomi Adeyemi’s high fantasy novel, Children of Blood and Bone takes the spotlight. Brace yourself, because this beat sheet is a behemoth! With three points of view and three intersecting beat sheets that culminate in three five-point finales, it’s a structural masterpiece. If you’re seeking guidance on integrating worldbuilding into your story and/or writing multiple points of view, this is the book to study. Adeyemi has truly nailed it.

Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows represents the Golden Fleece genre. Yes, you guessed it—it’s got a team, a prize, and a road. But wait, there’s more! This multiple-POV novel stands out as the five heroes actually share beats and have a joint beat sheet (or what I like to call a team beat sheet). I delve into multiple POVs in greater detail in the book, but make sure to explore this one for superb worldbuilding and plotting. And that five-point finale? Prepare to be blown away. Leigh Bardugo is an absolute genius.

Next on our list is the Fool Triumphant genre. For this genre, I’ve broken down Jerry Spinelli’s Stargirl. This novel serves as an excellent study for those of you crafting stories with a Catalyst on the very first page. Stargirl accomplishes precisely that. But how do the other beats unfold? In this beat sheet, you’ll witness the merging of the Setup and Debate beats, offering valuable insights into how it can be done effectively.

Now, let’s dive into the Dude with a Problem genre—the genre with the best title! And what better book to analyze than Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games? Raise your hand if you saw that coming. This beat sheet is essential for all novelists, regardless of the genre. It showcases sheer structural brilliance and remains one of my all-time favorite examples of the 15 beats in action. Prepare to be captivated from start to finish.

Moving forward, we have the Out of the Bottle genre. As mentioned earlier, Gayle Forman’s If I Stay is an excellent novel to study due to its masterful use of flashbacks. Where do flashbacks fit in the Save the Cat! beat sheet? In this new book, I delve into that topic in greater detail, using If I Stay as a prime example. Additionally, this novel exemplifies a character-driven, contemporary story (with a touch of magic!) with a rock-solid 15-beat structure!

Next up, the Whydunit genre. In this category, I’ve selected Karen M. McManus’s One of Us Is Lying as the featured beat sheet. This is another multiple POV novel, featuring four heroes. What sets this book apart is how the author crafts distinctive character arcs for all four of them. Each hero has their own set of problems, flaws, wants, needs, (and shards of glass!), seamlessly woven into a twisty-turny murder mystery. It’s a fantastic resource for those writing multiple POV or mystery novels, or perhaps both!

Last but not least, we explore the Monster in the House genre with Rory Power’s Wilder Girls. This book is chilling—in the best way possible. It combines a riveting horror narrative with a morally ambiguous ending, all while maintaining beautiful structure. If you’re interested in studying the inner workings of a horror novel and grappling with the challenge of having two POVs where only one is the hero, this beat sheet will be immensely helpful.

Want to know what exactly is a “Dude with a Problem” or a “Fool Triumphant?” Click here to download my free Save the Cat! Genre Guide!

So, there you have it—everything you need to know about Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel and the incredible novels featured within.

I hope you’ll pick up a copy!

Enjoy the read, and as always, happy writing!

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June 26th, 2023