Save the Cat! Writes a Novel

by Jessica Brody

Then I work through the following questions: What does the hero’s Act 2 world look like? How is it different from Act 1? Is it different enough? This starts to shape my Break Into 2 beat. How would my flawed hero change the wrong way, based on what they want, not what they need? This continues to shape my Break Into 2 beat. What kind of major event would be enough to kick this hero out of their status quo and into this strange new world? This forms the Catalyst beat. Does my hero generally flounder or excel in this new world? This determines the Midpoint and whether it’s a false victory (the hero excels in the new world) or a false defeat (the hero flounders in the new world). How does my hero, then, change the right way, based on what they need? This helps me start to discern my Break Into 3. Finally, what kind of rock-bottom life-changing event would be enough to eventually convince my hero to change the right way? This informs my All Is Lost beat—which you may recall is usually another Catalyst.