Welcome! I'm so glad you're here ☺️ I made this newsletter for you, after all. It's a space where we can talk all things storytelling at every phase of the writing process.
But it's not just any email newsletter; it's an invitation for two-way dialogue. Think of me as your bookworm friend who gets a bit nerdy about writing, reading, and storytelling. So feel free to reply, participate in polls (there's one below), and shoot me a message with questions or a topic you want to discuss next.
I'll also be sharing some chats with authors in future issues. I don't know about you, but I'm always inspired by the stories of the people behind the stories.
This month we're talking plot—specifically, the Save the Cat! plot structure.
Have you heard of it? Used it? Dreaded it? I have to admit that I was skeptical at first. Write a book according to 15 beats... isn't that a bit formulaic?
But we can take what we find helpful and leave the rest (I'm looking at you, second cookie in an Oreo). Sure, some folks might prefer the whole Oreo. Some eat only the cookies and scrape off the creme (blasphemy!). But there's a reason people snarf stacks of these cookies: they're pretty damn good to start with. That's how I feel about Save the Cat! beats.
Save the Cat! beats propel a narrative forward, force characters to change, and build the core conflict to climax. Chances are, most stories you know and love touch on these narrative beats in some way.
I think it's a helpful framework for two writing phases: plotting and revision. Plotters can use the beats as guideposts when planning your scenes. Writers with existing drafts can use these beats to identify missed opportunities they'd like to add.
Check out my downloadable beat sheet and give it a try for yourself!
