Save the Cat! Plot Beats

Okay, so when it comes to storytelling, we've got this thing called a "story beat," and it turns out there are two different flavors to it, each dealing with those crucial moments when things change.

Changing Relationship Vibes – That's a Story Beat!

One way to see a story beat is as those tiny shifts in how characters relate to each other, often triggered by what they say during a scene. Imagine it as little markers within a scene that kick things up a notch and keep the story rolling.

Shake Up the Plot with Beat Sheets

Now, here's the other side of the story beat coin. It's all about how the plot evolves through different scenes. Your story's like a domino setup, with one thing causing another. Writers love to lay out these events on a storyboard or something called a "beat sheet" when they're planning things out.

Blake Snyder's Take on Story Structure: Beat Sheets That Pack a Punch

So, you know, this guy Blake Snyder was all about organizing stories with beats. He wrote this popular book called "Save The Cat! The Last Book On Screenwriting That You’ll Ever Need," and in it, he breaks down the essentials.

He talks about fifteen key scenes you'll often see in Hollywood movies, from the first shot to the final one.

To keep things organized, he uses a storyboard with 40 index cards, divided into four sections.

And the other 25 scenes? Well, they're like the glue that holds the fifteen big moments together.

Bringing the Feels into Storytelling: The Heart of "Save The Cat!"

Now, "Save The Cat!" might sound all fancy Hollywood, but it's got some cool tricks up its sleeve.

It's not just about making blockbuster movies. It's about making your audience feel stuff.

One trick Snyder shares is what he calls the "Save The Cat" moment. It's this scene you put early on where your hero does something selfless, like rescuing a kitty.

This shows their good side and gets the audience rooting for them when they hit those rough patches later on.

So, whether you're crafting stories for fun or aiming for the big screen, remember that plot beats and beat sheets can help you take your storytelling game to the next level.