When it comes to creating compelling, well-structured stories, few methods have gained as much popularity as Blake Snyder's Save the Cat! story structure. This method was originally developed for screenwriters and has since been widely adopted by novelists and storytellers in various media for its practical, easy-to-follow approach. Save the Cat! provides a clear roadmap for crafting engaging stories that deliver emotional beats and maintain solid pacing.

Every compelling narrative is built on a well-designed story structure—it's a simple fact. Story structure is the organized framework that underpins the progression of events in a story. It shapes how characters, plot points, and themes unfold. You must understand and master story structure if you want to engage your audience, sustain tension, and deliver a satisfying payoff. It doesn't matter if you're writing a novel, a short story, a screenplay, or even a memoir — you need to get this.

The success of a project often depends on timing. Unfortunately, my short film »s1lence« (2003), about the hapless nerd Michi Schmidt and his dreams, didn’t get much attention because terms like ‘Nerd’, ‘8-bit’, and ›Drones’ weren’t popular yet. Now, with the surge of interest in tech culture, »s1lence« might appeal to viewers as it showcases the early years of tech’s influence, including the first appearance of Lisa Arnold from my Thriller »Escape« and the talking cell phone »Phil.«