What Is Save the Cat? Introduction to Story Structure

Plotting a story, for many writers, can be an intimidating process. Plotting is not just determining the best order to put your scenes in; it’s also how you build character and theme into that order. Plotting can take some time to master, but Save The Cat! by Blake Snyder helps simplify things with his 5-step basic story structure.

In this blog post, we will go over how to write a book using the Save the Cat! method.

Do authors really use a story structure?

Whenever I talk with new writers, I always ask them if they plot out their books or if they let their characters tell the story for them. 

Surprisingly, I’ve found that about half of my clients use various methods such as Save the Cat! or the Hero’s Journey to plan out their novels. They find that by using a structure, they run into writer’s block less often, they know what’s coming, and the overall writing process is easier for them. 

On the other hand, writers who prefer to free write often claim that their books end up more creative. They also think that by freewriting, their stories end up sounding less “canned.”

You don’t have to be on one team or the other here. Many published authors end up developing their own mix between free writing and plotting so that it suits their writing style best. 

Still, using a plotting structure or outline isn’t the only way to complete a best seller. Check out Brandon Sanderson’s take on outlining to see what I mean!

Let’s jump into Save the Cat!

Save the Cat!

Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder is a cheat sheet for writers. It’s an easy reference to learn the plot points of your story, including the order of events and when things should happen.

Before we get into Save the Cat!, let’s first define what a plot is. A plot is a series of events that build on each other, sometimes using flashbacks or a scene within a scene, to get the audience from point A to B. Plot is how you build tension and suspense in your story so that it keeps people interested until they have reached their goal or gotten what they want.

Step 1: find your target word count

You’ll need to figure out a target word count for this story structure. Once you settle on a number, you’re going to split this number between three acts in your novel. This will end up being your word count goals for each of your three acts. 

• First act :  25% of the total word count

• Second act: 50% of the total word count

• Third act: 25% of the total word count

For example, if you’re writing a 70,000-word LitRPG, you’ll assign 17,500 words for act one, then 35,000 words for act two, and the remaining 17,500 words for act three. Easy!

Step 2: assign the number of scenes within your acts

Many book coaches agree that keeping scenes between 1,000 to 2,000 words is a good target to aim for. This range gives you the room to explain what’s happening while keeping the story moving along at a pace that keeps readers engaged. 

In this step, we just need to figure out how many scenes we’ll have in each of our three acts. You’ll have to use—insert scary music here—basic math! 

I know, making a bibliophile do math is like throwing water on a Gremlin. But you’ll be okay. 

Let’s say you choose to keep your scenes to about 1,500 words each. Then you would just divide your total act word count by 1,500. Let’s make our high school math teacher proud by showing our work:

• First act: 17,500 / 1,500 = 12 scenes 

• Second act: 35,000 / 1,500 = 24 scenes

• Third act: 17,500 / 1,500 = 12 scenes 

Note that I did round up to make whole numbers here.

Step 3: assign beats throughout the story structure

In Save the Cat!, Blake Snyder blesses us by explaining exactly where each of the 15 beats should go in our plot. Now we just have to divide them between our three acts. 

Here are the 15 beats you’ll use.

1. Opening Image – 0% to 1%
2. Theme Stated – 5%
3. Setup – 1% to 10%
4. Catalyst – 10%
5. Debate – 10% to 20%
6. Break Into Two – 20%
7. B Story – 22%
8. Fun and Games – 20% to 50%
9. Midpoint – 50%
10. Bad Guys Close In – 50% to 75%
11. All is Lost – 75%
12. Dark Night of the Soul – 75% to 80%
13. Break Into Three – 80%
14. Finale – 80% to 99%
15. Final Image – 99% to 100%

Heads up—you’ll need to do a little more math here in order to know where each beat will fall within your story structure. For example, if you have 48 scenes in your story, the mid-point of your novel (beat 9) will go in the 24^th scene. Make sense? You just need to multiply your total scenes by whichever percentage point you’re trying to find.

Here’s another example: We want to find out which scene our big debate (beat 5) will be in. You just need to multiply your total scenes by the percentage point for beat 5. 

48 (total scenes) x .10 = 5 (rounding up). Therefore, our big debate would go in the 5^th scene. 

You can also do this by total word count instead of scenes­—whichever is easier for you. 

Step 4: what’s happening in your beats?

Once you figure out where each of your beats will go, start pulling the details together. You can write down any ideas you have in a notebook or on your computer to keep your thoughts organized.

Act 1

1. Opening Image (0% to 1%) – This scene beat gives us a glimpse of the main character and the world they live in. Usually, this is like your prologue.

2. Theme Stated (5%) – This scene beat is where we are told what the main character will do/learn before the end of the book. This is typically told by a character that’s not the main character. 

3. Setup (1% to 10%) – A multi-scene beat where the reader sees what the main character’s life and the world are like (good and bad). It’s also where important supporting characters and the main character’s initial goal are introduced. The initial goal is what the main character thinks will fix their life.

4. Catalyst (10%) – In this scene beat, a life-changing event happens to the main character, bringing them into a new world or a new way of thinking. In other words, your character’s “not in Kansas anymore” after this point.

5. Debate (10% to 20%) – A multi-scene beat where the main character debates what they’ll do next. Usually, a question haunts them like, “should I do this?” or “should I do that?” The purpose of this scene beat is to show that the main character is reluctant to change for one reason or another.

6. Break Into Two (20%) – A single scene beat where the main character decides to accept the call to adventure. They leave their comfort zone and venture into a new world or way of thinking. This is the bridge between the beginning (Act 1) and middle (Act 2) of the story.

Act 2A / The Middle (Part 1)

7. B Story (22%) – This scene beat introduces a new character(s) who will ultimately help the hero learn the theme (or lesson) of the story. These characters could include a love interest, a nemesis, a family member, friends, etc.

8. Fun and Games (20% to 50%) – This multi-scene beat is where we get to see the main character either thriving or floundering in their new environment.

9. Midpoint (50%) – This is a single beat where the fun and games section either culminates in a “false victory” (if your main character has been thriving) or a “false defeat” (if your main character has been floundering). It could even be a mix of the two. 

Act 2B / The Middle (Part 2)

10. Bad Guys Close In (50% to 75%) – If your main character had a “false victory” at the Midpoint, this multi-scene beat would be a downward path where things start spiraling out of control. On the other hand, if the Midpoint was a “false defeat,” this section will be an upward path where the storm starts clearing. 

This is also known as the turning point. Regardless of the path your main character takes during this multi-scene beat, their fear or false belief (their internal bad guys) and the antagonist (external bad guys) are closing in.

11. All is Lost (75%) – This is a single scene beat where something happens, and it pushes your main character to their lowest point. This event is usually in conjunction with the bad guys closing in.

12. Dark Night of the Soul (75% to 80%) – A multi-scene beat where the main character takes a time-out to process everything that’s happened so far. For them, it’s their darkest hour—the moment right before they figure out the solution to their big problem. Usually, this is also where they learn the lesson of the story.

13. Break Into Three (80%) – A single scene beat where the main character realizes what they must do to fix both the external story problems and (more importantly) their internal problems.

Act 3 / The End

14. Finale (80% to 99%) – This multi-scene beat is where the main character proves they’ve learned the story’s lesson and acts on the plan they made back in the Break Into Three scene. A great finale has five parts:

• Gathering the Team – The main character rounds up the gang and gathers the tools, weapons, and supplies needed to execute the plan.

• Executing the Plan – The main character (and crew) executes the plan. Sometimes secondary characters are sacrificed here to force the main character forward toward the finish line.

• The High Tower Surprise – The main character faces a twist that forces them to prove their mettle.

• Dig Deep Down – With no plan B to fall back on, the main character must dig deep inside themselves to find the most important weapon of them all: the strength/courage to overcome fear or false belief (internal antagonist) and face the antagonist or antagonistic force (external antagonist).

• Execution of New Plan – After the main character overcomes their internal antagonist, they act against the external antagonist and are successful. 

Note* If you’re writing a story where the main character isn’t successful, make sure you clearly explain why they failed.

Keep in mind that this map isn’t set in stone—you can divide these scenes any way you like. However, you want the pacing of your story to ramp up towards the end. Fewer scenes = quicker pace.

15. Final Image (99% to 100%) – This is usually a single scene beat that shows readers an “after” snapshot of your main character’s life and how much they’ve changed since the beginning of their journey.

That’s all for this story structure!

There’s no right way to plot a novel, but if this story structure clicks with you, I’d recommend purchasing Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need or Jessica Brody’s Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need.

What are some of your favorite novels? Can you map out the 15 beats for them? This is a great way for you to practice outlining and recognizing beats in a story. 

Interested in learning about a different type of outline? Check out The Hero’s Journey!