Save the Cat

You need to read Save the Cat because you need the Blake Snyder beat sheet. You may not *know* that you need it, but trust me, you do. In 15 plot points, Snyder shows you how to structure your novel so that you have the necessary highs and lows to make your three acts soar. Is your middle sagging? Could be because you don't have an effective Midpoint (Reversal). Does your protagonist win too easily, seeming to take everything in his or her stride? You're missing the All is Lost Moment. Does your protagonist just waltz right into the initial drama without considering whether he/she has other options? Throw in some Debate.

And then there's a whole chapter on fixing common plot problems: the inactive hero, the villain who could be more villainous, the dialogue that sounds like real people talking (absurd!). And there's the storyboard. And the 10 genres (not genre as in fantasy vs. sci-fi) that every story ever can be slotted into, basic story structures that'll set you up for life. And the ideas for scenes you need -- such as the Save the Cat scene, see the title -- that make the character sympathetic, or adds humour to the book, or sets up foreshadowing for later.

But even if none of that interests you, you still need the book for the beat sheet. Just ask Laura Pauling, or Laura Pauling, or hey, check out this one blog post by Laura Pauling. Commercial or literary, fantasy or contemporary, the beat sheet works, for movies and books.