The Living Plot

A Save the Cat beat sheet, mapped onto twelve days of real life.

Name Start date End date
#BeatDayWhat happened
1Opening ImageA snapshot of life before anything changed.xFill in last, after the Final Image.
2Theme StatedSomething stated simply that turns out to be what it was all about.xFill in last, after the Final Image.
3Set-UpThe ordinary world. What's normal, what's missing.xFill in last, after the Final Image.
4CatalystThe event that knocks life off its usual track.1Start hereI was given The Living Plot sheet.
5DebateHesitation. Should I? Can I?
6Break into TwoA choice is made. Something new begins.
7B StoryA second thread, often a person, that carries the theme.
8Fun and GamesThe promise of the premise. Things are working out.
9MidpointA false win or false loss. Change of fate.
10Bad Guys Close InPressure builds, from outside or inside.
11All Is LostThe low point. Something ends.
12Dark Night of the SoulSitting with it. What does it mean?
13Break into ThreeA realization. A new way forward.
14FinaleActing on it. Overcome the final obstacle.
15Final ImageA snapshot of where life is now.
Revise and reframe beats as needed. Try not to leave any blank.

How this works

  1. Today is Day 1 and it is your Catalyst. Being handed this sheet is the event that starts the story. Write that in the outlined box on the front.
  2. Live the next 12 days with the sheet in mind. When something happens that feels like a beat, write it in and note the day. Keep it short and honest. You can move or rewrite things later.
  3. Mark where the sheet changed things. If you changed or noticed something because you knew this story was being written, put a star next to that beat's number.
  4. On the last day, write the Final Image first. Then go back and write the Opening Image, Theme Stated, and Set-Up to complete the arch. What was this story about? What has changed for you? What would you title this story?

Some reflection questions for when you are done:

What did the sheet make you change or notice that you otherwise wouldn't have?


Which beat felt most true? Which felt most forced?


Did it feel good? Where exactly, and what do you think caused that?


Reading the Opening Image next to the Final Image, what changed?


What would you change: timeframe, structure, rules, something else?