Save the Cat! Writes a Novel

Writing about a hero who transforms—who comes out of the story a different person than who they started as—is the secret sauce of best-selling novels.

There’s something buried deep within our DNA as humans that makes us respond to certain storytelling elements told in a certain order.

Something tangible that the reader can keep track of and root for.

Your hero is who the reader will turn to when trying to figure out, What is this novel really about?

Your hero’s want or goal is an integral part of what’s called the A Story.

The word “plot” on its own is pretty useless. It’s just a series of events that happen in a story. But structure is the order in which those events happen and, maybe even more importantly, the timing of when they happen. Then you add in a character who needs to change and does change by the end, and presto! You’ve got a story worth telling.

The key is all in the pacing. A well-paced novel with visual elements, compelling character growth, and an airtight structure can step into the ring with any blockbuster film—and win.

We turn to story to watch characters fix their problems, better their lives, improve upon their flaws. Great novels take deeply imperfect characters and make them a little less imperfect.

And speaking of your hero getting what they want: Why haven’t they?