“It’s he-e-e-re”… the most heart-pounding, jump-out-of-your-seat, scream-worthy book in the Save the Cat!® series. Veteran horror screenwriter and novelist Jamie Nash leads us into the shadows of Blake Snyder’s legendary Monster in the House genre—and sheds light over the secrets to crafting truly terrifying tales. Save the Cat! Writes Horror is your guide to writing and delivering blood-chilling films and novels using the world’s most successful storytelling method, 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 • Plus: real case studies, scarecraft tools, career advice, and a comprehensive analysis of what makes the genre tick (and bleed) Whether you’re a screenwriter, novelist, or seasoned horrorhound, Save the Cat! Writes Horror will help you write the kind of story that lingers long after the lights go out. REVIEWS: A true gift for anyone looking to write a horror screenplay. Jamie Nash knows the genre inside and out and has broken down the tropes into forms and functions that are fully understandable, easy to implement, and utterly effective. All you need to add is your own creative inspiration, which this terrific book will spark. – Craig Perry, Producer, the Final Destination and American Pie franchises, Breaking In Scary good! This book takes the dread out of writing horror and replaces it with tools that are not only practical but wildly inspiring. It’s like having a co-writer who knows exactly how to unlock the fear in your story and the fun in your process. A must-have for horror fans and creators alike. – Eduardo Sánchez, Director/Co-Writer, The Blair Witch Project; Director, Exists, Lovely Molly, Hysteria!, Goosebumps, From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series You’ll learn something about your craft from Save the Cat! Writes Horror. It’s compulsively readable and full of smart, actionable advice whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out your horror career. – Adam Cesare, Author, Clown in a Cornfield and Influencer Jamie Nash has written yet another indispensable resource for the aspiring screenwriter. Save the Cat! Writes Horror is an extraordinary high-level overview of all the pieces necessary to make something great, memorable and, above all, terrifying. – Kyle Brett, Creative Executive (Film), Blumhouse Productions The monster at the end of this book is the horror story you write after reading it. – Stephen Graham Jones, Author, The Only Good Indians, My Heart Is a Chainsaw Save the Cat! Writes Horror is not only Nash’s love letter to his wheelhouse genre, but an astute examination of the cinematic things that go bump in the night. A first-rate book for film buffs, genre junkies, and anyone who grew up gnawing their knuckles in front of a late-night horror movie. This is a book that demands to be added to your collection. – Ronald Malfi, Author, Come with Me, Small Town Horror