Novelist Jessica Brody presents a comprehensive story-structure guide for novelists that applies the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology to the world of novel writing. Revealing the 15 "beats" (plot points) that comprise a successful story—from the opening image to the finale—this book lays out the Ten Story Genres (Monster in the House; Whydunit; Dude with a Problem) alongside quirky, original insights (Save the Cat; Shard of Glass) to help novelists craft a plot that will captivate—and a novel that will sell.
Goodreads Review:
The JLM Writing Books Book Club reviewed this book in August 2025. This book is an excellent primer for the Save the Cat! model as it relates to ALL novels. Don't be put off by the "Young Adult" included in the title of this book. The only thing that is YA about this book is the examples used to describe the Save the Cat! genres.
While much of the information included in this book is a duplication of what is found in Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, this book goes into greater detail about certain concepts, utilizing language that is more accessible than the original book. In addition, THIS book discusses how to use the Save the Cat! story structure model across a series, regardless of the length of the series. The discussion on writing series is not found in the original book.
If you are already familiar with the original book by Jessica Brody, we recommend that you read a digital copy of this book (Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel), picking up on the information that was added (writing in series) and the information that was better explained (writing multi-pov stories). For those who have never read the original book, then just read this one.
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.
