How to use Save the Cat! to Write a Novel Series

Summary

In this video, Jessica Brody, author and founder of Writing Mastery Academy, discusses how to use the Save the Cat beat sheet to track a hero’s arc across multiple books in a series. She explains different types of series structures, from single protagonists with overarching transformations (like in *The Hunger Games*) to multiple protagonists with rotating focus (as seen in *The Lunar Chronicles*). She emphasizes that every book in a series should feature a character transformation, whether the protagonist or a supporting character, ensuring that the story feels purposeful. Jessica also touches on the challenge of maintaining character arcs throughout a series.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Save the Cat method can be applied to track a hero's arc across multiple books in a series, but there are specific challenges that come with writing a multi-book series.
• 😀 A series can have one main protagonist throughout, with a large overarching arc broken into smaller arcs for each book (e.g., Harry Potter, Hunger Games).
• 😀 In a series with one protagonist, the hero should continue to evolve and overcome new challenges in each book, contributing to their larger, overall arc.
• 😀 In a multi-protagonist series, each book typically focuses on one protagonist, while secondary protagonists have smaller arcs that progress over time (e.g., The Lunar Chronicles).
• 😀 For multi-protagonist series, even when a protagonist is not the primary focus of the book, they continue to experience smaller, evolving arcs as the series progresses.
• 😀 In some series, like the System Divine series, a protagonist’s arc can be continued across multiple books, with each installment focusing on further personal growth and transformation.
• 😀 Ongoing series, like mystery novels (e.g., Amos Decker series, Cormoran Strike series), often feature a protagonist who undergoes a major transformation in the first book, but subsequent books focus on the development of other characters.
• 😀 The key to writing a successful series is ensuring that someone undergoes an arc in every book, whether it's the main hero, a new protagonist, or a guest character.
• 😀 For an ongoing series with no definitive end, the protagonist may not continue to arc after the first book, but still plays a key role in driving change for other characters.
• 😀 Writing a series is challenging, but if done well, it can result in a series of satisfying, character-driven transformations that span multiple books and keep readers engaged.

Q & A

What is the main challenge when writing a series using the Save the Cat method?

The main challenge is managing how the hero's character arc continues and transforms across multiple books, ensuring that each installment contributes to the overall character development while maintaining its own narrative journey.

What is the focus of the Save the Cat method in terms of character transformation?

The Save the Cat method emphasizes transforming the hero by having them learn important life lessons and conquer debilitating flaws. This transformation is crucial for engaging readers and progressing the hero's journey.

How does a hero’s arc work across multiple books in a series?

A hero's arc in a series generally involves a larger, overarching transformation spread across the books. Each installment typically has smaller arcs that work toward this larger transformation, with the hero continuing to face challenges and flaws that build on the lessons from previous books.

How does the structure differ in a series with one main protagonist versus a series with multiple protagonists?

In a series with one main protagonist, the hero undergoes a larger, continuous transformation across all the books. In contrast, a series with multiple protagonists has a central hero for each book, with smaller arcs for the other characters. The central hero of each book experiences a major transformation, while the others continue to grow in smaller ways.

What is an example of a series with one main protagonist?

Examples include 'The Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins and 'Harry Potter' by J.K. Rowling. In these series, the protagonists (Katniss and Harry) experience an ongoing, series-long transformation.

What are the different scenarios presented for writing a series?

The video presents three main scenarios: 1) One main protagonist throughout the series with a larger, overarching arc. 2) Multiple protagonists with each book focusing on a different protagonist's arc while maintaining ongoing development for others. 3) Ongoing series where the hero's arc is resolved in the first book, and subsequent books focus more on external character developments or different protagonists.

How are character arcs managed in a series like 'The Lunar Chronicles'?

In 'The Lunar Chronicles,' each book focuses on a different protagonist (e.g., Cinder in book 1, Scarlet in book 2), with each hero undergoing a significant arc. However, previous protagonists continue to experience smaller arcs as the series progresses.

What happens to the character arc in ongoing mystery series?

In ongoing mystery series, the main protagonist typically experiences their arc in the first book, but subsequent books focus on other characters' arcs or guest stars. The protagonist often serves as a catalyst for the growth of others, rather than having their own transformation.

Can you provide examples of ongoing mystery series where the protagonist doesn’t undergo a major transformation after the first book?

Examples include the 'Amos Decker' series by David Baldacci and the 'Cormoran Strike' series by Robert Galbraith. In these series, the main characters experience personal growth in the first book, but later installments focus on other characters or guest stars.

What is the key takeaway when writing a series, according to the video?

The key takeaway is that someone must undergo a transformation in each book, whether it’s the same hero, a new hero, or a guest star. Without character growth, the story lacks purpose and meaning, which diminishes the value of the journey for both the characters and the readers.