Our guest blogger, Cynthia Ellingsen, started her career as a screenwriter, working with screenwriting partner Natalie Compagno. The two penned Modern Love and Three Card Monte, both optioned by Identity Film. Cynthia went on to write contemporary fiction for Penguin-Berkley. Her novels, Marriage Matters and The Whole Package, are represented for book-to-film by Jon Cassir at CAA.
As a contemporary fiction writer for Penguin-Berkley, I have two novels on the shelf. Marriage Matters, my latest, is the story of a mother, daughter, and grandmother who all get engaged at the same time and decide to share a wedding. CAA is currently shopping the film rights. The Whole Package, the story of three best friends who essentially open a male version of the restaurant Hooters, was released in 2011.
One thing I consistently hear from readers is: “When I read your books, I feel like I’m watching a movie. Do you imagine the movie when you write?”
The answer is a resounding yes, primarily because I plot out the rough draft of my novels using the assistance of Save the Cat!
Save the Cat! is the best title, isn’t it? It conjures up a bright red fire truck screaming towards an emergency and a rugged fireman – perhaps one that forgot to shave– leaping out of the truck and racing towards the scene.
But this scruffy superman is not carrying a ladder to help some kitten trapped in a tree. No, no. He’s waving the Blake Snyder beat sheet at some poor writer completely at odds with story structure.
Story structure is one of the most critical components in writing. When you have a strong story structure, your readers are more likely to trust in the story you’re going to tell. Why? Because story structure, especially of the Hollywood variety, is universally recognizable.
Don’t believe me? Well, I bet you’d recognize this:
A hero who desperately needs a change experiences a catalyst to make this change, but still debates the need to follow through. Eventually, the hero commits to making said change. Cue celebration with a B-story and rollicking fun and games section. At least, until the bad guys close in. Then, the hero loses everything and is forced to face down the dark night of the soul. The hero rises from the ashes, triumphant.
Isn’t that a great story?!
When you work with a set story structure, it’s so much easier to stay on track and figure out what, exactly, to write. Save the Cat! has helped me to revisit the power of story structure again and again. Whenever someone tells me they want to write a book or a screenplay but don’t know how, this is the first book I recommend.
Even though it doesn’t really come with a scruffy fireman.
Keep me up to date with all your story structure adventures at www.facebook.com/cynthiaellingsen or https://twitter.com/CynEllingsen Or, you can also find me at www.cynthiaellingsen.com
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Cynthia, MARRIAGE MATTERS, sounds like terrific fun, loaded with comical complications, and I’m guessing at least one heroically scruffy Fireman.
awesome intel here! thanks for sharing…your four sentence paragraph of the story…exemplifies the simplicity, brilliance and escalation of good story telling that is STC! MEOW!
“Does Your Novel Read Like a Movie.” Wow. That is the first thing that was said about one of my books by a reviewer. I appreciate finding this post on the subject.
Hi Cynthia!
I am a former Penguin–Berkley (Jove) author–excellent house! Congratulations on MARRIAGE MATTERS. I hope to see it as a feature film very soon. 🙂
Thanks so much for the great feedback, you guys. Now get out there and Save. That. Cat!!