On Beats

Back in the day, there was no such thing as ‘Beats’. This is a name that has come to us from the script writing industry. They come with all kinds of names that change according to who you’re reading. Nothing wrong with it, but it’s a bit confusing until you realize what they are: plot twists. No more than that.

Acts are also from the script writing industry, but are the meat between beats. We’re not talking about that right now. That’s for a later blog post.

Each genre has it’s own suggestion of how many beats are preferred. Romance usually has five. Mystery has either seven or nine. And of course, no answer comes without arguments against it.

I’ll try to give you a quick rundown of what each beat/plot point (twist) means as I use them.

The first beat is the beginning. The inciting incident. What sets off the story. Which is always at the moment everything deviates from the norm. Or rather, a split second before.

Your second beat is what used to be called Plot Point 1. It’s the first major twist in the plot.

The third beat is called a pinch. It’s something that gives a small hint as to what happens at the midpoint. To know what this hint is, you have to know what the midpoint will be.

Fourth beat — you guessed it — is the midpoint. This is the moment when everything turns on its head. A bigger twist than before, it’s a complete reversal. Example, finding out a missing brother is actually missing on purpose due to a mole hunt ( as in my book, Sly As A Fox). It means the protagonist of the book will start off anew with a different goal that is related to the original one, but different.

Beat five is another pinch, alluding to the next plot twist just before the climax scene. Again, nothing definable, just a hint.

The sixth beat is what used to be called Plot Point 2. It’s that final major plot twist. It’s the moment when the protagonist is no longer able to back out.

Beat seven is the actual climactic scene. The fight to end all fights. Physically, emotionally, spiritually. everything. Conflict. Conflict. Conflict. All resolved right here.

And the last beat is the denouement. The final closing bell. It’s where you show life returning to normal. Or at least a new normal.

Those are the beats. And each plotline in your story has a set of those. The subplots aren’t as major and aren’t always seen clearly. They don’t all end at the same time, but gradually in the final chapters before the climax of the main plot.

So, those are beats. At least as I use them. People will argue against them and I’m okay with that. My stories are mine. Everybody has to make their own writing as their own.

Going back to that magic storyline/outline that I write after I’ve finished my rough draft, I try to identify each ‘beat’ so that I can make sure my story is balanced the way I want it.