If you’ve ever wanted to write a horror script or novel but didn’t know where to start, Save the Cat! Writes Horror is the ultimate guide to creating scary stories.
Out today in paperback and e-book, the 160-page book is penned by screenwriter Jamie Nash (Exists, V/H/S/2).
Blake Snyder‘s influential Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need was published in 2005, kicking off a series of writing books from industry professionals.
Save the Cat! Writes Horror sheds light over the secrets to crafting truly terrifying tales, including:
- A deep dive into horror’s core ingredients—Monster, House, and Sin—with subtypes, examples, and tools to help you design your own diabolical tale
- The mad science of turning Save the Cat!’s 15 beats into a horror story that builds tension, sharpens scares, and leaves your audience squirming
- How to balance Scares, Gross-outs, and Dread to torment your audience flawlessly
- Why knowing your horror’s heartbeat—Slow Burn vs. Relentless—changes everything
- How to use the Dread-O-Meter to engineer spine-tingling scenes with precision
- How to build memorable horror characters—from first-to-die victims to final girls and guys—while exploring how their flaws, choices, and arcs mirror deeper fears and social truths
- Real case studies, scarecraft tools, career advice, and a comprehensive analysis into what makes the genre tick
Nash previously authored 2021’s Save the Cat! Writes for TV and 2022’s Save the Cat! Beat Sheet Workbook and just published his first horror novel, Haunted Girl, last week.
Tags
Horror