Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a YA Bestseller

by Jessica Brody

An indispensable guide in the bestselling Save the Cat! story structure series that reveals the 15 essential plot points needed to make any young adult novel a success, from an accomplished novelist and the author of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel.


In Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel, prolific author and story coach Jessica Brody presents a comprehensive story structure guide for anyone who wants to write a young adult novel by applying the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology to the world of YA fiction. In this book, you will learn:
 

• The fifteen "beats" (or plot points) that are necessary for crafting a successful story with a compelling character arc —including the Opening Image, Catalyst, Fun and Games, Bad Guys Close In, Dark Night of the Soul, and Finale

• The ten universal story genres that will help you drill into what makes your type of story work, including those most commonly found in young adult novels like Rites of Passage, Superhero, Buddy Love, Institutionalized, and Golden Fleece

• Quirky, original insights and writing tips like “Save the Cat,” the “Shard of Glass,” and the “Dark Night Epiphany,” that help you craft a story that will thrill and captivate teen readers

Filled with practical advice, easy-to-follow templates, and "beat sheets" analyzing the structure of popular young adult novels such as Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows, John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, and Lois Lowry's The Giver, this book is the ultimate reference for anyone who's ever dreamed of writing their own young adult bestseller.

• ISBN10: 1984859234
• ISBN13: 9781984859235
• Publish Date: 2 May 2023
• Publish Status: Forthcoming
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Random House USA Inc
• Imprint: Ten Speed Press
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 320
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781984859235

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel is a tutorial guide/workshop for writers (and would-be-writers) by Jessica Brody with guides for producing a finished YA novel. Released 18th July 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Ten Speed Press imprint, it's 432 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

This is a practical and logically arranged guide to the craft of writing; specifically young adult narrative fiction. The chapters progress from creating worthy protagonists to blueprints/charts/storyboards for creating a narrative arc, through denouement and resolution. There are also tutorials for polishing, finishing, marketing, and planning sequels and series. 

Nearly all the books on writing craft seem to be dry and so full of detail that it's easy to get overwhelmed. The Save the Cat! series is humorous, very useful, and accessible. 

Four and a half stars. This would be a great public or school library acquisition, reference for aspiring writers, writing/bookclub groups and similar. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.