Intro to Story Beats (aka: Save the Cat)

[@SyndicShadow]

1. Intro Image (setting up the basic tone of the world, character(s) and story) 2. Inciting Incident (creates the call to adventure/initial goal/preliminary conflict) 3. Break into Act 2 (character(s) make decisions that lead them into adventure after the inciting incident, and the story changes to some extent as they answer that call) 3. Fun and Games (giving a bunch of stuff to the reader that relates to what the book is promising they can shove into their mouths like cake) 4. Midpoint (sets up momentum for rest of book; also known as the start of the second goal after the first fails or becomes less important) 5. Rising Conflict (conflict ratchets up with the second or readjusted goal) 6. All is lost (things get way worse or more ridiculous and everything is out of control/seems impossible to overcome) 7. The final battle/choice (main characters make a fateful decision and/or have their showdown with the antagonists) 8. Calm after the storm (reverse of call to adventure; wraps things up) 9. Final Image

[@justnice4701]

Thank you.

[@WhatRblurbs]

Top tier pfp

[@SyndicShadow]

@@WhatRblurbs why thank you

[@DaniCavenderHandley]

J. K. Rowling does a great job with the 'calm after the storm' - basically every meeting that Dumbledore and Harry have (usually in the hospital wing or in Dumbledore's office) that allows Dumbledore to explain and expand on Harry's experiences before he goes home for the summer.

[@Charlie-ib3du]

Rowling is horrible in all other aspects. Especially horrible what she's doing to the transgender community. No wonder Putin praised her.

[@jugofvoodoo4003]

I'm glad someone else sees a need for a beat between the Finale and Closing Image. I call it the Wrap-up since it's the opposite of the Set-up.

[@Star-ie8br]

Nice! I like that label better

[@slaniss]

I finished the 2nd rereading of the last pages of my trilogy today. I have 6 endings in my last chapter, to allow my characters to settle down for the end of my story.

[@gloop7458]

Outline of the video for people who have just as much trouble focusing as me: The intro: 0:00 1. The Opening Image: 1:41 2. The Set Up: 2:01 3. The theme stated: 2:05 4. Catalyst/Inciting Incident: 2:50 5. The debate: 3:18 6. Break into two: 3:34 7. The B story: 3:48 8. The Promise of the Premise: 4:07 9. The midpoint: 4:41 10. The Bad Guys Close in: 5:08 11. All is Lost: 5:35 12. The Dark Night of the Soul: 5:46 13. Break into Three: 6:10 14. Finale: 6:20 15. The Final Image: 6:32 Missing beat: 6:54 Small disclaimers/explanations: 7:31 “Why is it called Save the Cat.”: 7:57 Another disclaimer: 9:06 Overview + Outro: 9:27

[@gloop7458]

Anyways my story drifts heavily from this but I kind of like the way it’s laid out. I don’t think it really follows the Hero’s Journey loyally either. With what I want to do with the story, I don’t think there is a way to have a simple plot like that. We’ll see lol

[@FoodNerds]

I love the stars and string on your wall.

[@lauramayfair7887]

There is a recent book by Jessica Brody that adapts this method for novelists. It's called "Save the Cat Writes a Novel" and it's great. She also has a Udemy class. I find her clearer than Snyder. I love your "Calm After the Storm" beat... yes! That feels so right.

[@sc8047]

Thank you for mentioning this . Additionally, I thought Alexa's add-in made purrrfect sense! I hope she might consider writing a review for this book.

[@EmptyKingdoms]

Thank you for mentioning it! Just ordered the book.

[@jessicabrauman]

I really love that "fun and games" explanation. I, and I think a lot of other people, have trouble knowing what exactly to do in the first half of the middle. Because the second half is leading up to the ending, but what goes before that? But to explain it as "all the things that the premise promises", and the example of entering the arena in the hunger games, makes it so much clearer. Getting into the premise and the draw of your book, getting into the concept that made you want to write it and (hopefully) makes others want to read it, makes perfect sense.

[@8bitgalaxyhunts]

0:55 I know you’re probably saying “You can also call it the BS2” but all I can hear is a snarky “You can also call it BS, too” and it’s hilarious to me

[@MsChicoro]

Great video and pdf, thank you! Did you know a book has been published called, "Save the Cat Writes a Novel"? AND... the author uses The Hunger Games to illustrate the beats. You did it a whole 12 months before the author. Bravo!

[@greeneyelia]

I second Save the Cat! Writes A Novel. It's tailored to novelists and a lot less rigid than it's screenwriting predecessor. And Jessica Brody is a successful novelist (I felt a lot like you did, Alexa--Blake Snyder is very opinionated of what I considered to be excellent movies as well, and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot isn't exactly a screenwriting masterpiece) as well, which I always appreciate when I pick up a book on the craft of writing. I liked the screenwriting version of SATC, but the novelists' edition is even better. (PS: On the Save the Cat-website someone actually did break down Memento to the SATC-beats.)

[@michemman]

@@greeneyelia I found, "Save the Cat ! Writes a novel" to be fantastic, I asked my library to purchase it, so then borrowed it from the library twice, transcribed most of it in my journal/notebook by hand, and thought, nup I have to buy this. So now I have bought it I plan to use some contact on the cover, so it feels like the library book. It is a novel that you can pick up anywhere, and when you are stuck, or to pick it up as a reference, it is a good idea to cover it in contact, as it is the go to book that is humorous and easy to read, with so much use!

[@christianindiewriterspodca9124]

I love how no matter what story structure you use there are universal beats that you'll find when you look for them!

[@chrisf9143]

Thank you for the explanation and copy of the beat sheet.

[@megalopath]

I can't believe it, but I've kind of unintentionally been doing this throughout my draft. I didn't think to do the ending calm thing, but I think it would be perfect for me to try.

[@amandahafner334]

I found this very helpful and well presented. Great articulation of the story beats for a beginning writer that begs digging deeper and promotes use of these techniques as an effective way to ensure the writer is firing on all cylinders with their story. Thank you.

[@stoneinmybed]

Exactly what I needed to understand the Snyder-beat sheet quickly, and it was so easy to follow. I loved the examples from the Hunger Games! Thank you for uploading this! :)

[@AlexaDonne]

I'm so glad it was helpful! I find these things can get really muddled in my brain (it's why I'm a pantser!), so I tried to break it down in ways that made sense to me :)

[@hglundahl]

7:17 Calm after the storm ... all of last chapter of The Hobbit, perhaps especially where Bilbo and Gandalf discuss the fulfilment of certain prophecies.

[@easybullet3]

Thank you, that was useful for me. Especially adding the beat: "Calm after the Storm"

[@amandaburton5868]

It's so interesting how I started writing something and planning it out in my story without having known anything about story arcs or structures. I just started researching these things when I decided I needed an actual plot and set of themes, and it turns out my story follows basically this exact set of story beats almost exactly in order. That's thanks to reading a lot of YA books lol

[@Erdnussbuttertoast]

this was such a good explanation, thank you! I was honestly struggling to understand what the hell "Break into Two" or "Dark Night of the Soul" was supposed to mean, and I sure as hell wasn't going to struggle through that whole book for it! I printed out your worksheet and wrote along what you explained in the video. I don't think that the story I'm currently working on will fit a 3 act setting, but rather 5 acts bc I have 2 main plot arcs that act as the B-plot to each other (and are obviously less important than the other one at certain points) :)

[@brianedwards7142]

Save the cat makes me think of Ripley saving Jonesy in Alien but that's well into act 3 by then. Maybe that was inspired by the beat itself.

[@FoodNerds]

Or maybe the name of the book was named after the action?

[@oracleofaltoona]

Really appreciate your concise style. I learn a lot from you without having to wade through extraneous material. You rock. Thank you.

[@edweirdworld1249]

Before you mentioned the calm before the storm I was thinking that the third act seemed pretty light on beats. In a way, it's like what more can be added to the conclusion, but also, there is something inside of me that is just looking for more. That is how I feel about most endings, even in books that I love! It's caused me to reflect a lot--maybe too much--on what I might do about this in my writing. I don't have an answer and maybe that is why I avoid the end of a project like the plague. (A phrase that feels oh so fresh in 2020.) Thanks for a great video Alexa! I've decided to give outlining a try after years of telling myself I am mostly a plantser. Light a candle for me.

[@itsdavidmora]

Really practical and to the point, exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

[@CalWriter4]

Nice explanation, Alexa. There are so many people teaching writing, using different terms for the beats, plot points, pinch points, incidents, etc., it's a confusing Tower of Babel (or babble). This helped clarify some of them for me. Thanks.

[@TheSongBirdRainStar]

I have that same time turner!! Also I love your shirt matches the wall❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@HellsMirror]

Now I finally understand the title of the the chapter from Detroit: become human ("Night of the Soul")!

[@KmakNation]

Alexa, would you mind doing a video on writing novels that break this structure? Is it a good idea or is there a way to do it that leads readers in? My WIP opens on the inciting incident, which also acts as the opening image, leading into the set-up and decision. You’re explanation has me worried it’s not good enough!

[@MrAmansa12345]

I think if it works for your story to be able to tell the story in the best way than it will work!

[@hardnewstakenharder]

I found Save the Cat extremely overrated, and it’s structure is the basis for a lot of works I don’t respect. Write the novel you need to.

[@DashielClark]

Excellent description of the STC beats! Thanks!

[@yerabbit]

thank you for the pdf! great video.

[@leech1355]

Hunger Games did hit the beats really well, except at the end. The closing imagine was cut short. I wanted desperately to read her reunion with Prim but it was missing. I was so mad at that, I never read the sequels lol

[@sc8047]

Agreed... Readers do need resolve at the end To match the ball of emotions they are likely to have. But, when there is a sequel or a series, an ending like that would be pretty common I think.

[@sbarr10]

I am so glad to have found your channel. I am an older person, and just do not have the facility with language I had in my youth. A few years ago I took a creative non-fiction class, but it mostly devolved into political rantings. I think I have a few ideas that could be developed. I totally suck as a writer, so I do not harbor any fantasies about actually selling anything. I just want to get it all down in something structured and readable.

[@danielboone4796]

Thanks for the breakdown. I've been a news writer for years. This really helped me check my novel structure.

[@karenlebov-keeler2650]

I love "Intro to Story Beats" ! As a "virgin" novelist, I felt so energized after watching your video. I think I've been trying to run before learning how to walk, and feeling very frustrated in the process. The story beats will help provide some structure/guidance as I continue on this journey. Thank you!!

[@aquamarinerose5405]

I'd like to add another moment, the 'Kick the Cat" moment: Essentially the opposite of the Save the Cat moment, where your character's biggest flaws become manifest. It often relates somewhat to the midpoint and darkest hour moment. For the first example that comes to mind, due to a misunderstanding in the film Shrek, the titular character goes back to their old ways of pushing the people they care about out of their lives as their stubbornness and inability to properly parse his feelings, and it forces him to give up on happiness because he assumes "oh, it was all a sham". Within the same franchise, in Shrek Forever After, the "Do the Roar" scene is a good example of this kind of scene. The main character essentially snaps, shouting at people around him, smashing a cake, and saying some honestly really nasty things to his significant other because even after all of his character development he still has major flaws that he struggles with. Essentially it's another sort of "Show your protagonist's Vulnerabilities" beat.

[@simonepon]

Found this very enlightening and thank you for the PDF

[@transformationgeneration]

This was very good. Explained really well.

[@sarahjohn1484]

So glad I searched your page before asking for this video! Now to go study the handy print-out. Thank you!

[@edgarsketches]

The "Calm after storm" moment is exactly what was missing for "Husband material" by Alexis Hall. It felt like pages were missing from the book!

[@rickfraser1090]

Love your time turner!

[@squerky]

This is exactly what I needed! Thank you for making this video!

[@crycorner2199]

can this be applied to any genre? romance, for example? btw i loooove your videos

[@Erieswitchcraft]

I am a huge fan of the heroes journey and playing with the occult and incorporating them in a story is art. A perfect example is the game silent hill. The story has stuck with so many people and not just because it is scary. But we learn more about the darkness inside of people through archetypes or the journey and what one can become

[@saiyuriinuzuka6400]

Awww, I have a time Turner necklace too! :)

[@priyaa___a.official24]

Can you please help me with the "DEBATE" in Act 1? Because I think my novel lacks it, and I can't seem to write the part successfully.

[@EdgeOfEntropy17]

I personally do not think this is even needed. Having a character debate over change is okay, but to say it is needed every single time is a bit silly, if you ask me. Not every character is going to say, "Will I or Won't?" Some will jump in right away. This is why I am not a fan of following the beat sheet right down to the very last detail. It ruins creativity. Hope this helps and I wish you luck on your book.

[@Saiorcha]

This has been so helpful! It was awesome following along and realizing my book already fits so nicely into this set of beats 😊

[@kimserio8317]

Now this could possibly be a golden nugget, thank you!

[@WickedSapphira]

Thank you so much for this and your plot structure video! I needed help with this.

[@crowsguard]

thanks you explained it really clearly

[@c.d.dailey8013]

This is really heelpful. Thank you. I would like to check this out more.

[@paulstewart9985]

Hello. A little help here. Synder says that your hero needs to decide to go on the journey by page 25. Is that for a 120 page screenplay? What about a 90 page or 100 page screenplay? Not every screenplay is the same length. Is there a formula to make sure you're hitting that beat? Any help would be appreciated.

[@durendalarcas8209]

Thank you!

[@TheDude-vx6wn]

Very helpful, thank you!

[@platoniczombie]

You should talk about the monomyth more. I'm currently trying to write a story/novel following that structure and there's not a lot of in-depth analysis about it.

[@Alec_____]

If my story is already a romance, what could the "B story" be instead?

[@ellarue3753]

What if it involved the main character's hobby or goal in life? Like winning a dance competition or getting into their favorite college. Maybe a conflict could include balancing this goal with spending time with the love interest. Or maybe it could be a comedic side plot like caring for their senile grandmother who says offensive things since she has no filters anymore. The side plot can be anything, really!

[@liaf.beverly5344]

Do you suggest getting save the cat writes a novel or just the regular save the cat book? I’m trying to differentiate between the two

[@oddsox-sensei]

Have you checked out the Save the Cat for novels by Jessica Brody?

[@MP-wg8pd]

Thank you so much for this!

[@willrilya9443]

When she mentioned the last beat with the "calm after the storm," it made me realize that the book I am currently working on does not follow this. It ends where everyone dies with the world essentially blowing up. Advice on how this could still be manageable because I was hellbent on this ending? Thank you!

[@seabird3896]

Not sure if this is still relevant to your book but there is a way of making this happen, and keeping the ending, but it all depends on how your write it. It also depends on the tone/voice of your characters throughout the book. Essentially, if you want an ending like that to work you probably might want to make it sad/reminiscent so that the readers dont feel like they've wasted their time reading your story. I dont know your plot and themes or context but generally the type of ending you're going for would be better if the ending was seen coming, rather than being a twist. So then every 'good' scene or moment has more weight to it because we all know theyre going to die etc etc. Or just ignore if you've already figured it out 🤷

[@hglundahl]

8:56 I think I give both Susan and the taxi driver Spivvins and his relatives more than one "save the cat moment"

[@montyjose8397]

QUESTION: is it a terrible idea to introduce a B or C story before the inciting incident? It’s a murder mystery and one of the main characters will learn about his dead colleague (inciting incident) right afterward.

[@slaniss]

It's funny that you use HG all video long, cuz when I teach my students about a story or a novel plot, I often explain the steps using it or Star Wars. I didn't know nothing about Save the Cat b4 watching a video of Jenna Moreci some days ago. Isn't it just a pale copy of the hero's journey? Reusing the steps and calling them another way around? I said I use HG too, but I use it to explain the hero's journey. What is your opinion about it?

[@asheknowsbestbest5135]

It develops on Hero's journey

[@juliesit5344]

How many chapters or scenes are their for each beat?

[@scarlet8078]

Hey Alexa - there's a new "Save the Cat: writes a novel" or something like that. I see it has good reviews. Have you read it?

[@seabird3896]

That one is really good!

[@IsabelleMarot]

I'm planning to write a two-book or trilogy series and in my first book I don't have the 'dark soul' moment. Is this bad? She definitely, definitely has it in the second book. Do you have any advice for trilogy story plotting? Thanks x

[@AlexaDonne]

I might go back and look at your book one arc, I as do think dark soul moment really helps character arcs. It's not a dealbreaker, but I do think that it can improve a book. I got my agent without a really good one, but I didn't sell my book until I edited the last third to add a really juicy dark night of the soul section. It really improved the emotional stakes!

[@djones5130]

Thanks

[@empressmondays7109]

I hope that time turner is Ministry approved!

[@RiverDancer99]

This honestly helped me so much! I find myself now when I'm watching movies breaking them down with this method!

[@maigirl81]

Awesome info for this newbie!

[@MrDeadsurfer]

Blake Snyder was a great teacher.

[@JungleOrangeDan]

What do you mean when you say "I pants?" re: outlining or not

[@FoodNerds]

What I know and I could be wrong but pantsers are writers who just begin writing.

[@birdsongphylactery]

The first movie I remember watching and disliking was ‘blank check’, the only movie Blake Snyder ever got sole screenwriter credit for. Because of this I’ve never been able to take him seriously. Still, with a grain of salt the way you put it is useful

[@foundinfiction24]

Is that a time turner?

[@iancrooks8702]

nice. thanks

[@juliamay8580]

While structures like this certainly can be useful, I think there's also room in this world for contemplative stories that aren't that interested in moving forward with a plot, preferring to just "wander around" instead. It is hard to pull off, but people like Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Neil Gaiman (with My Neighbor Totoro, Only Yesterday and American Gods) have managed to get away with it imo

[@meghancarlson1360]

Thank you, this helped as a refresher!

[@amypeasewrites]

"so you can read some of my snark"....love

[@TravisTennies]

Holy sheet your mic has a sheet-ton of 8k~12khz! Can't take anymore

[@pippajackson3027]

This was so interesting, thank you.

[@bighardbooks770]

Great book(s) by Blake, thx . . .

[@1sportsfan]

new SAVE THE CAT moment discovered! SAVE THE BUG! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZq7apiPjqp4m8k

[@teresadesertgirl603]

You are adorable. Thank you so much for the break-down!

[@donutts3179]

This makes me happy, because my book has almost all of these and fits in fairly well

[@StockLisa]

Best video about writing 👍

[@scotthammaker5313]

I see in one video a cat. People with cats are better writers. Thanks for you fun videos, Scott H.

[@downtownearth828]

Thank you

[@targaryangirlalways5634]

YOU WONDERFUL BEAUTIFUL GIRL!!!! Thank you

[@Oli_Mili]

Why are "The hunger games" always used as an example? I've never read it, it's not even romance... We're talking about romance... And the alternative is... Pride and prejudice? Why can't anything be explained on another book that's a romance, but not a classic romance?

[@AlexaDonne]

Because I was drawing examples on the fly from books I love and have read multiple times. I am also a YA writer. Sorry it's not to your preference. If you want detailed story breakdowns in multiple genres, I advise you purchase Save the Cat Writes A Novel.

[@arfenmalik1717]

Hi u should have started by explaining what is a beat

[@strawberrysodapop7432]

damn, she's cute. and I cannot stop staring at her beautiful eyes

[@MangroveLord]

hunger gams drooler

[@contessa.adella]

You know the problem with all this “programmed” tale telling.....it is NOTHING like life. Think about your own life....you have a life story....but according to these rules...your personal tale is invalid. You do not have a single main antagonist...instead a selection of people who have hurt you or gotten in you way over the years. You may have had several ‘low points’ or none significant. There is no final showdown and you never win, you just survive your problems and carry on.

[@Диана-я5э1к]

I feel like reading this story might be interesting

[@ashtongrist]

its a long time to be stared at

[@FirstLifeFan]

Okay, I think I didn't hit ANY of these beats in my novel...😂

[@rami-sep]

Unfortunately fellas .. . The beats ain't as easy as they sound like

[@wyrmoffastring]

"used prevalently" you mean abused? Because it's abused as hell :(

[@kennethmatthew9638]

Like I've never heard of Battle royal or Neil Gaimans book of magic Jk Rowling 😆