3 Lessons Learned from Save the Cat! Writes for TV
They will change the way you write
I just finished Save the Cat! Writes for TV by Jamie Nash and thought I’d share some of the lessons and takeaways that stuck with me, so you can benefit from them as well.
This isn’t only tailored to TV writers. I think all storytellers can find value in these lessons.
Let’s get started.
Lesson #1: Structuring your story using sticky notes tremendously helps.
I hate outlining stories and usually stare at my screen for hours, writing-deleting-rewriting-redeleting until I just throw in the towel.
Jamie Nash suggests using sticky notes — or similar small paper cards — to organize your three acts. Once card = one scene. You can play with them, move them, toss them away.
I made three rows of 5–6 cards each, each row corresponding to an act. Here’s an example:
Act 1: OPENING IMAGE 1 | SET UP 1 | SET UP 2 | SETUP 3 | CATALYST
My first card was my opening image scene. The SETUP cards are 3 scenes showing the hero’s world as it is before the CATALYST happens.
