Contents:
Please log in to set a read status Setting a reading intention helps you organise your reading. Read the guide. Your reading intentions are private to you and will not be shown to other users.
What are reading intentions? Here's an example of what they look like: Your reading intentions are also stored in your profile for future reference. How do I set a reading intention To set a reading intention, click through to any list item, and look for the panel on the left hand side:. Or maybe the hero of the story gives up his seat to someone on a bus. Cats should always be saved. Never kill a cat in a story. I would never like a hero if they were mean to a cat. If I was reading a story where the hero was mean to a cat I would put the book in my litter box.
If I was watching a movie and a character was mean to a cat I would walk out of the theatre and ask for my money back. I like the idea of making a hero likeable.
I would like the bank robber and would want him to get away. If that is kissing up to the audience then I would kiss the writer, or at least purr.
Please log in to set a read status. Almost any story is going to have a midpoint where there are highs or lows and "bad guys closing in. Snyder gives real advice that writers can apply right away. Never, never, never kill the cat when you are writing a screenplay. Snyder began writing full-time as a screenwriter in
What about you? Do you think the Save The Cat rule is cloying and dull? Let me know in the comments section. This really is the last book on screenwriting you will ever need.
The book is full of constructive advice about writing screenplays. I've read literally hundreds of writing guidebooks and this is the most practical I've ever seen. I've seen books that literally say, "Here's how to write a plot.
Put your character in a tree, throw rocks at the character, have the character get back down. Snyder gives real advice that writers can apply right away.
This book is best known for its discussion of what is known as "beats. He even breaks the beats down to what page number they should appear in the screenplay which has lent itself to a spreadsheet called the "beat sheet" that has become essential in modern Hollywood.
The beats have also been applied to TV shows, novels and other forms of fiction. There's been a lot of the criticism of the beats as being formulaic, but it's really just a system that fits story arcs going back to ancient mythology. Almost any story is going to have a midpoint where there are highs or lows and "bad guys closing in. I thought Snyder's advice was very practical and could be applied right away, but is something I've never seen in print, so it's welcome.
Yes, this book isn't for people who want to write metaphorical or metaphysical drama that explores the human condition. If you want to write a movie or novel that will sell to a small and limited audience, this isn't the book for you.
If you want a book that will tell you how to write blockbuster stories for the biggest audience, I can't think of a better one. December 17, - Published on Amazon. Pass on this book unless you'd like to write the most formulaic and contrived stories imaginable. This book was recommended to me by a long time screenwriter who heard I was beginning my own project; I bought a copy, read it and immediately found myself wishing I'd saved both my time and money.
Self-gratifying at best, Blake Snyder spends half of the book promoting his own screenplays that no one has ever heard of while bashing true classics. The remaining half is spent laying out an almost page by page guide on how to write a story that might sell but likely won't be anything groundbreaking or even good. Snyder attempts to make a science out of an art thus killing any scrap of creativity with his heavy beat layout. April 2, - Published on Amazon. Having just finished reading this book I've decided to make another pass, focusing mostly on my highlights and notes, with every confidence this book will remain on my reference shelf or in my Kindle where it actually resides for the rest of my professional life.
Well written, interesting, and with many excellent points, it's a good, solid, interesting read. One can tell many reviewers, readers, wanna be screenwriters, and others are certain this book is off the mark and too formula to have value.
These same folks need to spend more time actually watching and analyzing many of the films Hollywood puts out even today