how I OUTLINE my books using Save the Cat Story Beats + the 3 Act Story Structure Novel Outline
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- Опубліковано 25 лип 2024
- This is my personal outlining process when it comes to outlining and writing my books. It's a mix of the Save the Cat Writes a Novel story beats and the three act story structure that I learned from watching Abbie Emmon's playlist on the three act story structure.
◦ My Outlining Template (with all the questions and notes pictured here) on Patreon: / resource-library-66129037
◦ Three Act Story Structure Playlist (Abbie Emmons): • How to Write a Hook Fo...
◦ Enneagram for Characters (Brittany Wang): • Create Book Characters...
◦ Save the Cat Writes a Novel: www.amazon.com/Save-Cat-Write...
◦ Read THE SECRET GIFT: books2read.com/thesecretgift
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p.s. for those who have reached out to me asking for a copy of this outlining template that I compiled, I am adding it to my Patreon Resource Library in May, as a free download for anyone who supports me in that tier! So if you're interested, you can check that out here: www.patreon.com/bethanyatazadeh
I still don't see this outline template in the Resource Library. Where can I find it?
I used to have trouble figuring out their fear. I started asking, "What's the worst thing that could happen if they got their desire?" That really helped me keep them from getting their goal, or at least make them wary of it. And for the stakes I like to ask, "What's the worst thing that could happen if they don't get their desire?" That will be another type of fear that may even happen at the 75% mark.
I like that!
Wow, that's SO helpful! I always have trouble figuring out the personal obstacles to achieving the character's goals, so this will be game-changing!
You, my friend, are a lifesaver
So helpful, thank you!!
Love love love your content Bethany. You’re always so helpful and informative 🥰
I have been watching you and Abbie Emmons for a while now, so it was funny to see that you have too-and both of you have helped me so much!!! Thank you for this video!
Haha that's awesome! And yay so glad you liked it! :D
This was the most in depth video I've seen in a while! Thank you so much for sharing ❤❤
I’ve started melding Save the Cat Writes a Novel with a few other plotting tools to write my current WIP. I loved the break down of this video. Thank you ❤️
This is one the best novel outline structure I saw! Super clear, concise and efficient! Thank you, Bethany, for taking the time to make yet another super helpful video on writing :)
I watched Abbie's entire playlist before this. She's my absolute favorite writing teacher. 😊😊❤❤
This was so helpful. I used save the cat for my last book but idk I always get confused with the process but I watched this whole breakdown pausing to copy and it really helped me plot my next book, so thanks 🙏🏾
Thank you for your video it was very helpful. I took notes to help me with a quick outline while following your publishing plan as well. 😀
Very helpful video, helped me to understand the structure of my romances on a basic level, helped me to understand saving the cat a little better, thank you so much
Pretty much the video and your intro explanation summarizes how I've been plotting and discovery writing my current work. Great algorithm timing and on the video.
I wanted to mention around beat #12 in the finale/break into three, what doesn't get talked about often: a “calm before the storm” beat, which is a reaction beat where the characters stop to reflect and think about what's come so far before the finale, and the denouement beat, which is technically another name for the resolution, but has the additional “after the dust settles” reaction beat, where the characters reflect on what happens after the finale is over, but before the resolution. Both of these are optional but add a great levity to the balancing of a fast pacing in act 3 to mirror the speed at which you proceed through act one. Some see these as filler, I see these optional beats as necessary additions toward countering the constant conflict which moments of time and joy, where you can really get attached to characters and their personalities from interactions. A lot of shows do this and it's great to add if you're planning on building a series and not a standalone.
Just as an example in my own work's outline, the two main characters have built the team and are coming out of preparations, but are resting up at camp before heading out to see their big battle plan through; they take this to reflect amongst one another and introduce themselves while interacting. This scene of course is interrupted by the constant threat of the antagonistic force, and are quickly thrown into turmoil where they fight their way out and are forced into an unprepared battle sequence by the skin of their teeth. This is a calm before the storm-weaved square into the conflict of the finale. And the other one, “after the dust settles”, offers a major character revelation that changes the outlook of the protagonist just before the resolution. And this sets up future conflict for a sequel because of the twist it implements. Just something to think about in perhaps your next outlining process.
So helpful! Wow, I've learned just what I've been doing right, and ways to make it a whole lot easier and stronger! Thank you so much!
If I’m honest with myself I was struggling with my outlines. I felt like they were missing a few key points and now I’ve finally found something helpful! What I like to do is scene/chapter outline after novel outlining, but I have yet to figure out something decent for myself. I guess that’s what trial and error is for! I’ve only ever updated my outline’s structure once and it’s been needing a revamp. This was exactly what I’ve been searching for. Thank you so much! 💙
This was worth the wait! Even though I know and think in STC, I took notes! Not a whole lot on the first watch, but am planning on going back and take more notes. I love how one how-to book can be interpreted in so many ways. You def made me think and gave me ideas. Love this! :)
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it!
I’m a newbie AuthorTuber in awe of your videos!
Thanks, Bethany! Loved seeing your outlining process. I really like finding ways to combine the methods from different writing books I liked into my own method. Save The Cat is one of my favorites, along with Blueprint for a Book and Story Genius. 😊
Yay thanks Makenna! I'm so glad you liked it, and now I'm super curious about those other two books/methods haha!
I enjoyed the audiobook version of Save the Cat, but have now bought the print, too! Much handier for reference. Like you, I've found it incredibly helpful when plotting and re-working during edits. Thanks for sharing! It's always insightful to see other authors' processes. Excited to read the final version!
Sweet! Yeah I gotta have the print version because I refer back to it so often haha! And hope you enjoy reading the final story! :D
Awesome video thanks Bethany
This video helped me out tremendously!!!! STC and Abbie!!! I have watched all of her videos and read save the cat. THIS IS GREAT!!!!
Yay! Thank you Jennifer, I'm so happy you enjoyed the video!
Thank you for going through your process with us. To be honest, I was just starting to merge Save the Cat with what I learned from watching Abbie Emmons' videos. This has helped me so much.
Glad you enjoyed it!
i'm polish girl and i live here, but i think that your channel's one of the best in the whole youtube on the subject of book writing (and with all my heart, thank you for the possibility of including subtitles, 'cause it enables me to polish my english skills)
Yay thank you and so happy to hear that!
@@BethanyAtazadeh
I just started reading that book! It's interesting so far. And agreed on Abbie Emmons. She has some really good suggestions.
Sweet! So glad you enjoyed it!
I want to thank you for putting so much into helping other writers. It means a lot to someone like me who is hoping to make a lifelong dream of becoming a published author come true (even at this later stage of my life, 59yo). I am working through Save the Cat playlist with you and Brittany Wang, but also being able to have you use your book The Secret Gift to give examples in this video is so exciting. I am taking lots and lots of notes! And I did pause and go buy your book!!! And I love it). Thank you again!!!
Thank you Denise! I really appreciate that, and so happy the video was helpful!
I've also used the snowflake method for one of my books I wanted to write first and I did so much outline
Your break down is the best since sliced bread! I really just hit the jackpot… the way you broke everything down was very receptive… Thank you! Subscribed!
Thank you so much!
It was really cool to see you combine these two processes together. I really like save the cat, but there are a few spots that I always get stuck on. I plan on looking at Abbie's videos to help with that!
Yay thank you Jasmine! :D So glad you enjoyed it, and I agree, it's nice to have multiple options when we get stuck in one method!
I’m definitely a plotter to the T! I need everything plotted and outlined from each chapter and scene of the entire book just to begin writing. I’m very type A and love a thorough plan
This was so helpful! Thank you so much! 🙂
Glad it was helpful!
This was very helpful, especially the PowerPoint. It can be hard for me to really grasp these concepts without examples and I think using Jezebel's story is a great way to show how thos technique doesn't have to be literal or "happily ever after". You can really adapt this method to whatever you're writing!
Yay so happy you liked it, thanks Erica! :D I agree, examples are huge, so I'm glad you enjoyed Jezebel's story!
Thank you for doing this one, it has given me a slightly different look at some of the plot points.
So glad you enjoyed the video!
Omg! This was sooooo helpful. And you have a baby. Awwwwwww
I have yet to read Save The Cat but it's on my list to read soon. That being said, this breakdown really helped me see how the book helps you format your outline to hit all the important parts of the story.
So glad you enjoyed it!
Nice! I really enjoyed this - thanks, girl!
Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Awesome video
I love your content because it's so transparent, and I don't mean personal things, but the business/ hardships on the other side of writing. But I also love your content because I can sit at my table without having to wear ear plugs and my 11 yo daughter can sit with me. She loves writing too, and I think if we learned what we are learning now earlier in our lives, how much better would we be? So, its never too early for her. I'm just glad there are a few authortubers who make it comfortable for 11 yo kids to hear and learn from as well.
Thank you Sarah, I really appreciate that!
Excellent
Thank you for this so good! side question, Do you have a video one how to use your Planning my Novel notebook? I'm not sure how to use the different pages.
Bethany - How over the moon are you about J.B’s STC Writes YA Novel? 😂😂. I’ll bet you were on the preorder list!
I’ve seen her interviewed about it and why it’s different from the previous book - but it is so your Jam 😂😂😂.
Thanks for this video! I am a huge fan of Abbie’s. I love her approach and I love that you’ve combined it with STC. I am currently Frankenstein-ing together a story structure hybrid myself. Abbie is my cornerstone.
Here’s my title for the model so far:
Abbie Emmons Saved The Cat that wrote a novel and over the course of Three Acts and Eight Sequences, she watched it go through Michael Hauge’s Six Stages while it rested inside a Story Grid before going on a Hero’s Journey. 👀👀😂😂😂😂😂😂.
It sounds convoluted but as you pointed out, there is much overlap of beat concepts between different models. It’s been intriguing mapping them out and seeing where they align.
Genre conventions come into play as well since I’m planning a romantic thriller for my first ever wip. It will be a fanfic for the practice and experience. I’m still learning specific aspects of craft to set myself up for writing a decent first draft.
I know I’m a raging plotter - so as soon as I have my hybrid figured out I’ll start plotting. I’ve created six original characters to drop into the fandom world, so I’m working up those profiles too.
Do you have any suggestions for first WIP-ers to assess when they’re ready to make a good run on their WIP? Maybe you have a list of the baseline skill sets one needs to write a decent first draft and avoid major rewrites because of ignorance of a key aspect of craft?
I can and will learn as I go - sure - but just when I think I’m ready to dive in, I come across another major concept that significantly increases my understanding and/or allows me to avoid making systematic mistakes that would have caused me to make major re-writes.
As an example, how to choose and write POV correctly is crucial to know - preferably BEFORE you write an entire first draft with your characters violating third person close POV rules / guidelines on every page. It’s that kind of thing that I’m trying to avoid. Any guidance you have to share will help but don’t feel guilty if you can’t get to this anytime soon. You’ve got your hands full 😂💯.
Either way, I find you truly inspiring, positive and genuine in your desire to help the community - all while smiling the most sincere smile.
Thanks!
Definitely more of a pantser here. Haven’t even thought of outlining on my project and I’m like 10k words in rn. I will probably do it though because I feel like it will probably benefit me a lot.
Could you perhaps upload this powerpoint or make it into a document? That would be so much helpful for outlining in the future!
Oo I'm a discovery writer.
I am 100% a plantser; I like to plot a bit, but I am also a discovery writer at heart.
18:56 Plot twist! Cooing baby sounds are the best background ambience. 👶
Wonderfully thorough and helpful video! Well done! 🖋 🥳
Haha! Thank you, so glad it was helpful!
For my second book, I wrote a list of 8 points. That was my outline. I have more ideas in my head, but they are malleable.
I just saw a video talking about what Bethany said about the debate step sometimes manifesting as a prep step instead, when there is no debate to be had.
The inciting incident disrupts the status quo but think about a character like James Bond.
When Bond gets the mission there’s no debate. That’s his gig! That’s his status quo. So instead of debate, we get the prep step.
This is when he gets the mission parameters and then he visits Q to get all his tech for the mission. When he flies off / leaves to go on the mission, that’s usually your break into 2.
I’ve read that crossing the threshold, cross into the upside down world or the Break into two - whatever you want to call it - often entails actual movement away from one place going to another.
I don’t think there always is a debate per se but there always seems to be either a debate or prep - one of them is there in most stories.
In The Hunger Games, there’s no debate after Prim’s name is called (the inciting incident) Katniss responds immediately by volunteering as Tribute.
But there are a few scenes where she seems to be getting her affairs in order before she leaves - telling her mother she’s got to get it together to take care of Prim after she leaves.
Then her and Peta leave on a train. Movement away and into Act 2 - upside down world much different than the normal world they just left.
Structure seemingly appears just about everywhere good story lives, folks. Had no idea before I started learning craft - but it is just that - Craft! 😂
Having a blast and really enjoying videos like these.
so nice
Thank you!
This video was very helpful. I'm currently working on deciphering the Save The Cat beats myself and seeing someone walk through it with a single coherent story shed light on a lot of the little parts that I found confusing.
And your baby made some very excellent points on the subject as well, I look forward to reading his stories some day! 😂🤣😂🤣
Hahaha that cracked me up, he did make some good points on plotting, I agree haha!😂 But so glad that you liked it and that the examples were helpful! :)
I used Abbies 3 act structure to outline my debut novel. I plan to use the Save the cat one and add it to Abbies to outline the second book.
This made a ton of sense to me. So far, the outline methods that clicked for me were Save the Cat, One Page Novel and 7 Point Structure, as well as the philosophy of Snowflake. This made the 3 Act Story structure much more approachable for me. I'll have to watch Abbie's videos as well!
Your story example seems very interesting and made me curious to read the series. One small note: I can see how everything that happens to her in the all is lost/dark night beat makes sense, but I don't like the phrasing that makes it seem like it's all her fault. Yes, she was careless and ended up showing her Gift to someone. But the decision to out her and use her for nefarious purposes still belongs to the boy. In that scenario, she's a victim. Then she tries to protect herself and punish him. Yes, it backfires, but she was in her right to do so. And her turning him into a small creature was a self-defense action. So the way this beat is phrased in the slide ends up feeling a bit "victim blaming" to me. I hope that's not what it feels like in the book.
I'm the same - I'm a mix where I do a basic outline, but I don't go into super detail, I just use the 3 Story Act structure and write down basic bullet points of what I want to achieve for each section, but they are 1-2 sentences, and that's it, and then I flush it out once I get there. The bullet points just remind me of "What was I doing again? Oh yeah..."
That's awesome! It's a nice balance!
I enjoy your videos Bethany, thank you for providing such a valuable resource! I was just wondering why some of the videos have comments turned off? Is it because they are older? A lot of people do like to read comments by others as part of the youtube experience. Sorry if you've already addressed this in one of your videos.
I remember a NANOWRIMO project I plotted, a historical fiction. I realized that the only way that the treaty could have been effected as historically described was if the door to the room in which it was signed were a self-closing door. This was significant to the plot because there were terms in that treaty that basically condemned some of the servant and slave classes to death. I did some research that required a road trip, and it turns out that the door to the room was a door that swung closed due to a "screw-hinge" that used gravity to re-set the door to the lowest point of gravity, i.e. the midpoint. So swinging self-shutting doors pre-date 1837, which was relevant to the story because it meant that none of the servants in the house were indeed privy to the content of the treaty before it was effected, a treaty that they certainly would have put a stop to had they been aware of its implications.
So would you say that the Pre Midpoint Reactionary Hero is the Bulk of the Fun and Games beat?
Darn…I want to watch this video but I don’t want to be spoiled! Lol I feel so conflicted 😩 Guess I’ll just have to go buy your book and read it so i can come back and watch the video 🤷🏼♀️
Outlining does help.
I am both a plotter and panser
So helpful especially since I’ve waited 10 days before NaNoWriMo to think about creating an outline…and it’s my first go at this. Lol.
So glad to hear - you’ve got this!
I think I’m confused on how the first plot point is different from the debate/inciting incident?? 🤔 In the debate, they are faced with 2 choices but they don’t make their decision until the first plot point? And there’s some b-story/subplot brought in in between?
well... you are definitely not "right in the middle" between planner and pantser, you are way over there with the planners :)
But I like your strategy (which would never work for me, pants-on-fire-pantser that I am) and enjoyed how you showed us through it. Thank you!
Bethany! I write this here as it is your newest video and I guess you'd be reading the comments here relatively soon. I like watching your videos, and I feel I learn from them.
I've just gone through your video list, and I am missing something (read 'in-depth') about finding keywords (f ex the seven KDP keywords, but also keywords for advertising) for books that are NOT 'no/low content'. You have published books that are supposed to be READ, not just USED - like a notebook! I find it difficult to find the keywords for this category. Now, I do not write young adult books like you, but children's books. Not picture books per se, but books with text and many illustrations. I'd like to see you share thoughts on finding keywords for this kind of literature. Thanks!
I can definitely write that down as a possible video idea for the future, but to be honest, I don't feel like I'm on expert on the subject. I might instead point you to kindlepreneur who has a youtube channel as well as I believe he created Publisher Rocket for the purpose of finding the right keywords: publisherrocket.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw06OTBhC_ARIsAAU1yOVHPA4HWNT8HC-Tmk-O1A4BCpXCYRula_44P-syqmFtLFUp04x-s0oaApFUEALw_wcB Good luck!
I always use an outline, it keeps the context tight.
It helps me a lot too!
I'm a discovery writer but, I need some order
I can relate to that!
HELP I cant figure out what my character’s fear is! Their desire is to live in a fantasy world and experience the adventures they read in novels. Basically they want to escape their boring reality. But I cant figure out what fear would be keeping them from going after their desire other than the fact that it’s impossible to do so (until the inciting incident). Any ideas?
I think you should start brainstorming by thinking why do they want to be in a fantasy world?
I have to add. Not sure what she turned him into before leaving him in the Human realm, but turning him into a talking cat would have been an awesome set up for a Puss In Boots story.
Haha true!
Blake Snyder was the original creator of Save the Cat beats; he needs credit at the beginning of your video, too.
Jessica Brody gives Blake Snyder credit whenever / wherever she speaks about her books…as she should because she wrote an adaptation of his method. I say let Jessica Brody continue to be responsible for citing Snyder.
Conversely, Bethany is simply recommending Ms. Brody’s book and correctly citing IT as the partial inspiration for her outlining process.
The novel that is Bethany’s inspiration is STC Writes A Novel. Period. Bethany is not obligated to cite Jessica Brody’s references / source material.
Besides, none of this stuff was created in a vacuum. People are using different terminology for the same concepts that can be traced all the way back to Aristotle. That’s why so many story structure models fit so neatly together one atop another.
Thank you so much for this video!! But could I suggest to not go back and forth from an image of something we have to read, to you talking? I know we could pause the video, read, and then continue watching and listening to what you are saying, but I think it would help with the flow of the video better. Cuz you’re talking about something we are supposed to be looking at or reading, but there’s no time to do that, cuz the video goes back to you talking, and then, back to the image again and so on…
My book does not have a happy ending. 😅 Buuuuut it’s a horror.