Essential Beat Sheet For Writers

Essential Beat Sheet for Writers

ACT ONE: SETUP

1. Opening Image: A snapshot of your story’s world and tone. Who are we following? What’s at stake?

2. Theme Stated: A subtle hint about the story’s deeper meaning or lesson, often posed as a question or challenge.

3. Setup: Introduce your protagonist, their ordinary world, supporting characters, and the status quo. Show us what needs to change.

4. Catalyst: The inciting incident that flips the protagonist’s world upside down. This is the point of no return.

5. Debate: Your protagonist hesitates. Should they step forward into the unknown or retreat? This beat builds anticipation.

ACT TWO: CONFRONTATION

6. Break Into Two: The protagonist makes a decision and steps into a new world (literal or figurative). The adventure begins.

7. B Story: The subplot kicks in—often a relationship or secondary goal that supports the main story’s theme.

8. Fun and Games: The “heart” of the story. Deliver on the premise and explore the stakes through action, conflict, and character growth.

9. Midpoint: A major turning point where everything changes. Stakes are raised. Success feels closer—or failure looms larger.

10. Bad Guys Close In: External and internal pressures mount. Allies falter. Enemies strike. Doubts creep in.

11. All Is Lost: The darkest moment. The protagonist experiences a significant loss or setback.

12. Dark Night of the Soul: A pause for reflection. Your protagonist processes their failure and digs deep to find the courage to move forward.

ACT THREE: RESOLUTION

13. Break Into Three: Armed with new insight or strength, the protagonist takes decisive action to face the story’s central conflict.

14. Finale: The climax. Everything comes to a head in a final showdown or resolution. Your protagonist proves they’ve changed—or failed to.

15. Closing Image: A mirror of the opening image, showing how the world—and your protagonist—has transformed.

More Posts from Anovelidea13 and Others

11 months ago
Hector Elizondo & John Rhys-Davies Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004) Dir. Garry Marshall
Hector Elizondo & John Rhys-Davies Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004) Dir. Garry Marshall
Hector Elizondo & John Rhys-Davies Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004) Dir. Garry Marshall
Hector Elizondo & John Rhys-Davies Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004) Dir. Garry Marshall
Hector Elizondo & John Rhys-Davies Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004) Dir. Garry Marshall
Hector Elizondo & John Rhys-Davies Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004) Dir. Garry Marshall

Hector Elizondo & John Rhys-Davies Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004) dir. Garry Marshall

1 year ago

YES! When I say I SOBBED at the end. Such a well-written character arc, and I'd admittedly love to know more about her backstory.

***Iron Flame SPOILERS****

I am so incredibly disappointed with what everyone is choosing to talk about with this book. Everyone is concentrating on what happens with Xaden but you know what to me was the absolute most gut wrenching storyline in the whole book? General Lilith Fucking Sorrengail.

From the moment we see her again in the beginning of the book she is nothing but supportive and proud of her daughter. Yes, she absolutely made the wrong decision where she stands in the war, and what she did to Xaden was absolutely inexcusable. (Although I do think if she hadn’t done that they would have killed all the marked ones.) But she made all those decisions for her children. Because she did what she needed to to keep them safe. You can’t convince me that even after Violet leaves, that even after Mira leaves, that she wasn’t incredibly thankful for the fact they were together and with Xaden who would never let something happen to Violet.

Lilith went into the dungeons to get her daughter out of there and I am not unconvinced that had Violet not already been mid rescue the General wouldn’t have turned traitor right there to get her out. The scene when Brennen reveals himself to her?? She’s cracking and can hardly hold herself together and my heart felt so sorry for her in that moment. It made me mad at Brennan because he threw it in her face like ammo when Violet spent all of fourth wing describing how his death ruined their mother.

One of the most heart breaking quotes in the whole book is at the beginning of chapter 65:

“Most generals dream of dying in service to their kingdom. But you know me better than that, my love. When I fall, it will be for one reason only: to protect our children.”

General Sorrengail didn’t support the war, she didn’t fight for Navarre she made it clear fron the beginning that she was just a mom protecting her kids, and she did so without second thought. Without hesitation. She didn’t do what she did for the war effort, or even to help everyone on the battlefield. She did it for Brennen, and Violet, and Mira.

Lilith Sorrengail was just a desperate mother and everyone glossing over her sacrifice is bullshit.

11 months ago

I have not yet watched Derry Girls, despite it being on my list for ages and so many people telling me I'll love it. This gifset might be the kick up the butt I need.

DERRY GIRLS (2018 - 2022) ↳ Clare Devlin Once Said...
DERRY GIRLS (2018 - 2022) ↳ Clare Devlin Once Said...
DERRY GIRLS (2018 - 2022) ↳ Clare Devlin Once Said...
DERRY GIRLS (2018 - 2022) ↳ Clare Devlin Once Said...
DERRY GIRLS (2018 - 2022) ↳ Clare Devlin Once Said...
DERRY GIRLS (2018 - 2022) ↳ Clare Devlin Once Said...
DERRY GIRLS (2018 - 2022) ↳ Clare Devlin Once Said...
DERRY GIRLS (2018 - 2022) ↳ Clare Devlin Once Said...
DERRY GIRLS (2018 - 2022) ↳ Clare Devlin Once Said...

DERRY GIRLS (2018 - 2022) ↳ Clare Devlin once said...

1 year ago
This One Has Been On My To-do List For Far Too Long! If You Were Patiently Waiting For The Smoulder,
This One Has Been On My To-do List For Far Too Long! If You Were Patiently Waiting For The Smoulder,
This One Has Been On My To-do List For Far Too Long! If You Were Patiently Waiting For The Smoulder,
This One Has Been On My To-do List For Far Too Long! If You Were Patiently Waiting For The Smoulder,

This one has been on my to-do list for far too long! If you were patiently waiting for the smoulder, well, here it is! 🥰

Happy Valentines!! 🌸☀️

Find me here: Instagram | Website & Portfolio

1 year ago

The Folk of the Air book titles if the books were from Cardan's point of view:

The Hot Girl in my Class

The Mean Boss

Malewife of Noone

1 year ago

I feel like a constellation of wounds, held together with string and stubbornness.

— Holly Black, The Queen of Nothing.

1 year ago
The Cruel Prince Sketches
The Cruel Prince Sketches
The Cruel Prince Sketches

The Cruel Prince Sketches

Artist: @honeyypears

1 year ago
A Recent Animation I Did Of One Of My Illustrations! Website | Instagram | Shop

A recent animation I did of one of my illustrations! Website | Instagram | Shop

1 year ago

In mine and many other east Asian cultures, the dragon traditionally symbolises things like power, wealth and strength (imperial symbol and all)

I think we often forget that in the story of the Great Race, the dragon came in fifth because it'd stopped to give people rain. Then it'd stopped again to push a rabbit adrift on a log across the wide river so it reached the shore safely (that's why the Rabbit year comes before the Dragon).

Dragons aren't meant to just be powerful - they are meant to do good with such power, and to help those in need.

So in this lunar new year, I hope you gain more power, so that you might be able to help others. I pray you have abundant resources so you may give to yourself and those around you. I wish you courage, endurance, kindness and generosity, for yourself and your people.

I hope you, and I, will be rain givers, life preservers, joy bringers.

I hope we will be dragons.

Extremely belated postscript that should have been here far earlier:

Free Palestine, Free Sudan, Free Congo 🇵🇸🇸🇩🇨🇩

  • thewritingfiles
    thewritingfiles reblogged this · 5 days ago
  • antihell
    antihell liked this · 6 days ago
  • iamahideousness
    iamahideousness reblogged this · 6 days ago
  • iamahideousness
    iamahideousness liked this · 6 days ago
  • starslake
    starslake liked this · 1 week ago
  • rottensoullz
    rottensoullz liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • slo2004blog
    slo2004blog liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • thatndginger
    thatndginger liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • tricornking
    tricornking liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • m-r-levine
    m-r-levine reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • m-r-levine
    m-r-levine liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • dragonthusiast
    dragonthusiast reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • of-potions-and-blades-official
    of-potions-and-blades-official reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • of-potions-and-blades-official
    of-potions-and-blades-official liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • lunamoonartist
    lunamoonartist liked this · 2 weeks ago
  • thewordthief
    thewordthief reblogged this · 2 weeks ago
  • marzelgrimm
    marzelgrimm reblogged this · 3 weeks ago
  • marzelgrimm
    marzelgrimm liked this · 3 weeks ago
  • booked-on-a-feelin
    booked-on-a-feelin reblogged this · 3 weeks ago
  • sabookey
    sabookey reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • kaijubride
    kaijubride liked this · 1 month ago
  • jfictitional
    jfictitional reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • hush-night-hush
    hush-night-hush reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • otherworldlycraft
    otherworldlycraft liked this · 1 month ago
  • telchineaqualode
    telchineaqualode liked this · 1 month ago
  • theangryweasel
    theangryweasel liked this · 1 month ago
  • stealthbaguette
    stealthbaguette liked this · 1 month ago
  • crimson-door
    crimson-door liked this · 1 month ago
  • brightthing
    brightthing reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • tuppnu
    tuppnu liked this · 1 month ago
  • flame-of-tar-valon
    flame-of-tar-valon reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • emcapi
    emcapi liked this · 1 month ago
  • emcapi
    emcapi reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • scare-ard--sleigh
    scare-ard--sleigh liked this · 1 month ago
  • fic-txt
    fic-txt reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • azianxpersuasionwrites
    azianxpersuasionwrites reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • distinguishedfoxbeliever
    distinguishedfoxbeliever liked this · 1 month ago
  • virtualslimepainterwombat
    virtualslimepainterwombat liked this · 1 month ago
  • lavenderelixir
    lavenderelixir liked this · 1 month ago
  • the-invisible-llama
    the-invisible-llama reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • the-invisible-llama
    the-invisible-llama liked this · 1 month ago
  • aristarr
    aristarr liked this · 1 month ago
  • azhdhsjddjzie
    azhdhsjddjzie liked this · 1 month ago
  • darkk-academic
    darkk-academic liked this · 1 month ago
  • dillanstar
    dillanstar liked this · 1 month ago
  • smorocz
    smorocz liked this · 1 month ago
  • clownaroundandgetpushed
    clownaroundandgetpushed reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • thewritingfiles
    thewritingfiles reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • emmaforyou
    emmaforyou reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • thedreamsthatstuffismadeon
    thedreamsthatstuffismadeon reblogged this · 1 month ago
anovelidea13 - A Novel Idea
A Novel Idea

Book posts, fandom love, and a doom pile for ideas.

165 posts

Explore Tumblr Blog
Search Through Tumblr Tags