A few weeks ago, I started writing a series of posts about the blueprint I use for outlining my stories: the Save the Cat beat sheet. I also introduced the first parts of the beat sheet. In this post, I’ll dive into the final part, which covers the third act.

Beat #14: The Finale

In “the finale” beat, ALL THE PROBLEMS created throughout the story must be resolved and the Main Character (MC) must show that they’ve learned the story’s “life lesson”—they are no longer the flawed person they were in the beginning of the story and have become a new and improved version of themselves. In other words, their character arc is (nearly) complete.

This beat takes place across multiple scenes and covers the final 80% of the story.

It may seem like an overwhelming task to write this beat, but there’s no reason to panic: Save the Cat divides the finale beat into five smaller parts or “micro-beats” that help us slay this “climax-dragon”:

Gathering the Team

In this micro-beat, the MC will gather help to execute whatever plan they came up with in the “break into three” beat. This doesn’t necessarily mean they’re recruiting people to help them; it could also mean gathering tools, making plans, collecting supplies, making amends—as long as it’s in preparation for the big, dramatic climax of the book.

Executing the Plan

Once the team has been gathered, it’s time for action: the MC will have to execute their plan—and it seems to be working!

During this beat, secondary characters sometimes have their shining moment, for example by sacrificing themselves for the cause (or the MC). That way, the MC is forced to face the final battle alone (and they can truly show that they’ve changed, and they’ve got what it takes to bring the story to an end).

High Tower Surprise

Sooo, things seem to be going according to plan—until they aren’t. Plot twist: the MC is led into some kind of trap! The purpose of this micro-beat is to provide one last opportunity for the MC to prove their worth, and to prove they’re really a new and improved person.

Dig Deep Down

This micro-beat is the reaction to the high tower surprise. It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the MC is facing an impossible situation and has nothing left. The plan has failed, and all hope is gone!

But…

Execution of the New Plan

The MC has one final trick up their sleeve! In this micro-beat, the story’s “life lesson” really kicks in!

The MC has been forced to grow and change throughout the story, and now it’s time to show who they’ve become. They take the plunge; come up with a new, crazy plan; and succeed!  

Beat #15: Final Image

The “final image” is a single scene beat that serves as a mirror to the “opening image” beat at the beginning of the story. The final image shows the MC after they’ve gone through the story’s journey and completed their character arc. It’s a visual representation of their life after they’ve learned the “life lesson” and should be the opposite of the opening image.

This beat occurs at 99% or 100% of your story’s total word count.

I hope you found this helpful! 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).