Digital Marketing Manager Application
Glenn Anaiscourt
The 15 Save the Cat! Beats
These are the 15 beats as adapted for novel writing in Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody:
1. Opening Image: A snapshot of the protagonist's world before the story begins, setting the tone, type, and initial stakes of the story.
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2. Theme Stated: The theme or main message of the story is hinted at, often in a conversation or a moment that poses a question or a challenge to the protagonist.
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3. Set-Up: The first few chapters where the protagonist's world, challenges, and life are established, including the characters and initial problems or goals.
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4. Catalyst: The inciting incident that changes the protagonist's world and sets them on the journey of the story. It's a point of no return.
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5. Debate: A section where the protagonist (and perhaps others) debates what to do next. It's a reflection phase that builds up to the decision that propels the story into its main action.
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6. Break into Two: The protagonist makes a choice and the story moves into a new, unfamiliar situation or "act two," where the protagonist pursues their goal more directly.
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7. B Story: A subplot that usually involves a love story or a secondary theme that supports the main theme, providing contrast to the main plot.
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8. Fun and Games: The heart of the story where the premise is fully explored. These chapters are often filled with moments that fulfill the promise of the genre, showing the protagonist either succeeding or failing in an entertaining way.
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9. Midpoint: A significant event that occurs halfway through the novel, which either elevates the story to a higher level of stakes (a "false victory") or brings the protagonist to a low point (a "false defeat"), deepening the conflict.
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10. Bad Guys Close In: Complications and greater obstacles arise, often with the antagonist gaining power, leading to increased pressure on the protagonist.
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11. All Is Lost: The lowest point for the protagonist, where it seems like all has been lost, often accompanied by a symbolic or literal "death" (of a person, hope, or idea).
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12. Dark Night of the Soul: A moment of introspection where the protagonist reflects on their failures and often the theme of the novel, leading to a revelation or a new idea that propels them towards the climax.
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13. Break into Three: Armed with a new plan or realization, the protagonist moves into the final act of the story, where they will face their main challenge or antagonist.
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14. Finale: The climax and resolution where the protagonist uses everything they've learned to confront the central conflict, resulting in success or failure.
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15. Final Image: A mirror of the opening image, showing how the protagonist and their world have changed as a result of the journey, closing the story's arc.
