When I read a nonfiction book, there's an 80% chance that it's a biography, a memoir, a book about farming, or a book about writing.
Today, we're talking about that last one: books about writing.
I've read a lot of them.
None of them have been bad, but some have been better than others. And today, I'm going to share with you my top two favorites. The first one taught me how to plot a story; the second one taught me how to write without a plot. Let's dive in!
#1: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You'll Ever Need, by Jessica Brody
I wouldn't say this is the last book on novel writing you'll ever need, but I would say it's a must-read at the very least! This book changed the way I thought about stories.
For a long time after I started writing, I would have an idea, write a page or two that I loved, and then get stuck or lose interest and drop the project. It bothered me that I couldn't ever finish anything, but I didn't know how to fix the problem. I read so many different methods of plotting, from bloggers who write 10,000-word outlines (you might know who I'm thinking of) to the Pixar story structure that's essentially a fill-in-the-blank outline:
Once upon a time ...
Every day ...
Until one day ...
Because of that ...
Because of that ...
Because of that ...
Until finally ...
And ever since then ...
Some methods were useful, but none of them were life-changing. Until I read Save the Cat! Writes a Novel. In case you're not aware, "save the cat" is a storytelling method originated for screenwriting by Blake Snyder. The name comes from the idea that in the very beginning of your story, you should have your protagonist do something that makes the reader care about him/her (such as saving a cat). In her book, Brody runs with Snyder's idea but adapts it for writing fiction books. Essentially, she posits that there is a 15-beat plot structure that most stories in the world use. Not only has this structure helped me plot my books, I believe it has also helped me become a better reader. The main thing I like about the Save the Cat! method is that it doesn't leave you stranded in the middle.
Here are the 15 beats:
1. Opening Image
2. Theme Stated
3. Setup
4. Catalyst
5. Debate
6. Break into 2
7. B Story
8. Fun and Games
9. Midpoint
10. Bad Guys Close In
11. All is Lost
12. Dark Night of the Soul
13. Break into 3
14. Finale
a. Gathering help
b. Executing the plan
c. The high tower surprise
d. Dig deep down
e. Execution of new plan
15. Final Image
I'll let you read the book for yourself to learn what these titles mean. ;)
But Save the Cat! Writes a Novel isn't all about plot; Brody also sets forth the common (but very, very important!) character paradigm of "Problem, Want, and Need". Your main character has a Problem (or flaw) that needs fixing; they have a Want (or goal) that they are pursuing, which is what they think will fix their problem; and they have a Need, which is the lesson they learn and the thing that will actually fix their Problem.
This is by far the best plotting method I have found. However, even after I read this book, I found that plotting wasn't my go-to. I preferred to jump right into the story. Thinking about what the next "beat" would be helped, but not perfectly. Then I read ...
#2: Story Trumps Structure, by Steven James
James champions a method of writing that he calls "organic", and as I was reading about it, I realized that I prefer to write organically. He talks about pacing, flow, continuity, and even characterization. He compares the pros and cons of writing from an outline versus writing organically. (An important note here: writing organically is not the same as "pantsing". To write organically, you have to have a deep understanding of the Laws of Story. Then you can break them. If you want.) He even has a handy chart in the back listing all kinds of writing problems and how to fix them. I need to buy this book so I can read it again (or at least refer to the chart in the back when I'm stuck), but for now all I can say is that if you write fiction, you'll want to read this book.
So how do you pull these two methods together and get the best out of both?
Here's what I do.
I write my story organically.
Then I go back and outline it using the Save the Cat! method. This allows me to discover the story as it unfolds, almost like I'm reading it myself. Then, when I go back and tease out the plot, it reveals weak places in the story that I can make even better. I used this method for my book Notes of a Forgotten Princess (which has not been published, in case you're wondering. I'm still working on it. Well, I'm thinking about working on it).
Have these books cured my bad writing habits?
No.
Because as good as they are, I need to put in the work too. And I'm working on that.
I'm thinking about working on it.
Maybe, one day, eventually, you'll see a book by me on the shelf. And if you do, a large part of the credit will go to these two books.
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