A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about the blueprint I use to outline my stories: the Save the Cat beat sheet. In this post, I’ll dive into the first part of this beat sheet – which covers the first act of my novel. Of course, writing remains a highly subjective thing: what works for me doesn’t necessarily have to work for you (and that’s perfectly okay).

Beat #1: Opening Image

This is the first beat of the story. It serves as a snapshot of your main character (MC) before the story starts. It shows who the MC is and what their life is like within the flawed world of your story. 

This beat will occur within the first scene or chapter (0-1% of your total word count).

What I like to do in my opening image is consider who my MC will become by the end of the story: how will they change over the course of my story? I try to create the opposite version of that person in the opening image.

Beat #2: Theme Stated

This beat is a scene in which a character that is NOT your MC mentions the “life lesson” that the MC will learn by the end of your story. It’s a sneak preview of the MC’s character arc and foretells how the MC will change throughout the book. 

Usually, this hint comes in the form of advice or help offered. Of course, the MC doesn’t listen to the advice and declines any help. As a result, the MC is forced to go on the journey that constitutes the story. 

This beat usually occurs before your hit 5% of your total word count.

Beat #3: Setup 

The setup beat is spread out over multiple scenes in which the MC’s flawed life and equally flawed world are explored in a more detailed way. We get to see the MC’s original goal (i.e., the thing the MC believes will fix their life). Most importantly, however, the MC’s reluctance to change (and learn the theme stated in the previous beat) should be made clear, as well as the risks involved. 

Key supporting characters are introduced (including the character that mentions the MC’s “life lesson”).

The scenes in this beat will have to happen before you reach 10% of your total word count.

Beat # 4: Catalyst 

This beat constitutes the so-called “inciting incident” scene of your story. It’s the life-changing event that happens to the MC, which will kick-start their journey and lead them into a new world or a new way of thinking. 

After the inciting incident happens, the MC cannot go back to the “normal life” and “normal world” that was introduced in the setup. Usually, this beat is filled with action and big on drama (think: death, a break-up, a kidnapping). 

This beat occurs once you reach approx. 10% of your total word count.

Beat #5: Debate

After the inciting incident, the MC usually takes several scenes or chapters to react to what happened. This is a scene sequence in which the MC debates what they will do next: “should I go?” or “should I do this?” or “how will I do this?” (in addition to: “damn, WTF just happened?”).

The purpose of this beat is to show the MC’s continuous reluctance to change, while also preparing them for the events that will unfold in Act 2.

The scenes in this beat will happen after you’ve reached the first 10% of your word count, and before you reach 20% of your total words.

Beat #6: Break Into 2

This is the scene in which the MC decides to accept the call to action that was offered during the inciting incident. They choose to leave their “normal life” and step into the new world of Act 2, embarking on the journey that will lead them to change their ways by the end of the story. 

This beat is decisive and filled with action. It also includes a change in the MC’s original goal. The MC will pursue this modified goal throughout the first half of Act 2. 

This beat takes place around 20% of your total word count.

I hope you found this helpful! Next time, I’ll be talking about the beats in Act 2. Stay tuned!