SFRB Recommends #63: Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder

This ultimate insider's guide reveals the secrets that none dare admit, told by a show biz veteran who's proven that you can sell your script if you can save the cat!

The full title's Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need. I don't write screenplays, and there's plenty of Hollywood material here I didn't find useful, but I've found it an approachable, casual explication of the three-act structure and how it and 'beats' work for most stories. The book's other useful features are demonstrating the saving of said cat by the hero (thus making us care about the hero) and the importance of being able to explain your story in an efficient manner: good for blurbs and queries.

Related sites: Save the Snyder!: A beat sheet outline | Plotting with the Save the Cat Beat Sheet Structure | Save the Cat! Official Website

Recommendation by Lee Koven.