Save the Cat! Writes a Novel

by Jessica Brody

Your hero’s want or goal is an integral part of what’s called the A Story. The A Story is the external story. It’s the stuff that happens on the surface. Car chases; wars; fights in the school hallway; new jobs; casting magic spells; taking on an evil, dystopian government; poisoning the king. Essentially, it’s the exciting stuff. The “cool” stuff. Or what’s also referred to as the premise. On the other hand, the B Story is the internal story. It’s the story that’s intricately linked to what your hero needs to learn in order to change their life, complete their transformation, and enter the hall of fame of story-worthiness.

1. OPENING IMAGE

2. THEME STATED

Somewhere in Act 1 (usually within the Setup beat), a character (usually not the hero) will make a statement or pose a question to your hero that somehow relates to what the hero needs to learn by the end of the story. Like this: “Maybe all men got one big soul ever’body’s a part of,” stated by Preacher Casy to Tom Joad in The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (page 24). Or “Mom is always saying I’m a smart kid but that I just don’t ‘apply’ myself,” written in Greg Heffley’s journal in The Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (page 14). Or even something as simple as, “What exactly do you want to do with your life?” stated by Camilla Traynor to Louisa Clark in Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (page 22).

3. SETUP

4. CATALYST

5. DEBATE

6. BREAK INTO 2

7. B STORY

8. FUN AND GAMES

9. MIDPOINT

10. BAD GUYS CLOSE IN

11. ALL IS LOST

12. DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

13. BREAK INTO 3

14. FINALE

15. FINAL IMAGE

Our three ingredients for mastering this genre are (1) a hero with a special power, (2) a nemesis who stands opposed to our hero, and (3) a curse that our hero must suffer as the price for their greatness.

The combinations of dudes and problems are endless, but the rules of the genre remain the same. You gotta have (1) an innocent hero, (2) a sudden event, and (3) a life-or-death battle.

Basically, a Golden Fleece story features (1) a road, (2) a team, and (3) a prize.

THE SAVE THE CAT! LOGLINE TEMPLATE On the verge of a stasis = death moment, a flawed hero Breaks Into 2; but when the Midpoint happens, they must learn the Theme Stated before the All Is Lost.

THE SAVE THE CAT! SHORT SYNOPSIS TEMPLATE PARAGRAPH 1: Setup, flawed hero, and Catalyst (2–4 sentences) PARAGRAPH 2: Break Into 2 and/or Fun and Games (2–4 sentences) PARAGRAPH 3: Theme Stated, Midpoint hint and/or All Is Lost hint, ending in a cliffhanger (1 to 3 sentences)

Help! Where Do I Start? The Foundation Beats

The Five Foundation Beats are Catalyst Break Into 2 Midpoint Break Into 3 All Is Lost

However, before you tackle any of the beats, figure out the three components of your story-worthy hero—a problem (or what makes your hero a flawed hero), a want or goal, and a need.

Help! I’m Writing a Series! The Series Beat Sheet

Author Terry Pratchett says, “The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.” In fact, some people even call the first draft “the discovery draft.” Because that’s what you’re doing. You’re discovering the story. You’re exploring the world. You’re getting to know the hero.