Here are the notes I took during author Nina Bruhns presentation Plotting a Best Seller: the Beat

Sheet. The Beat Sheet Title: Logline: What is your main trope? Secondary tropes? Something concrete they desperately want: Hero: Heroine: Ten words or less statements of the internal GMC for: Hero: G: Heroine: M: G: C: M: C:

One sentence premise/setup What is the central story question?

Conflict box Goal Conflict

Heroine

Hero

Goal and conflict cross linked so her goal conflicts with him and vice versa

Optional extras What is your sentence story theme? (example: crime does not pay) Six things that need fixing: Hero: Heroine:

The secret: Hero: Most secret wish: Hero: Heroine: Heroine:

Most secret fear: (will help with that black moment) Hero: Heroine:

ACT 1 1. Opening image: 2. Catalyst (backstory): ex: raped ten years earlier so the catalyst that makes her who she is now. Know reasons for the inner conflicts Romance: Subgenre: 3. Theme stated: 4. Set-up: Romance: Sub-genre: 5. Inciting incident: what happens right now to start the action. Ex: in Star Wars Luke comes back to find his aunt and uncle dead. Hero and heroine meet, an instant attraction this tells them right up front that this is a romance. Romance: (meet and sizzle) Sub-genre: (bad guys show up) There has to be a bad guy maybe not an action villain. It could be a storm.

6. Debate: Denial of the call to action. Will they get together? Will they work together? Happens many times. Romance: Sub-genre: 7. Act 1 action: whats going to happen in that first act Romance: Sub-genre: 8. The choice: Character has to make a choice that is in direct line with the debate Romance: Sub-genre: 9. First turning point/Break into Act II: accept call to action and plot is spun around 180 degrees. Plot now goes in a different direction Romance: Sub-genre: Act II- first half 10. B-story mirror of the story conflict: this is the best part of the story. This is where the premise is fulfilled. This is what makes the story so cool. Ex: car chases, ranch setting with riding horses. Reader fun and smiling or if a dark book, this is where they find out their best friend has cancer. This is where weave in your B story. The A story is romance. The B story is the suspense or paranormal or teen angst, etc. 11. Act II action (fun and games; the promise of the premise is fulfilled): Romance: Sub-genre: 12. Midpoint twist/change of context (false success/failure): a change in context with romance and sub-genre. For example, making love. They have been denying attraction. Now sleep together and this changes the story. In sub-genre this could be where someone is killed or something happens with the vampires, etc. Plot does not spin, but there is a false success or failure. For example, making love brings more conflict that will affect sub-genre. Something bad happens but this will lead to something that will solve the problem. Romance: Sub-genre: Act II- second half 13. Act II second half action (bad guys close in): Characters are more loving and intimate, but a series if test that forces them to choose. Romance: Sub-genre:

14. Whiff of death: ex. An ally dies, or it could be a symbolic death. Something to remind the reader and character of the high stakes of the story. 15: All is lost situation (the external conflict; the inverse of the midpoint success/failure): Not a false but a real failure. Ex. Heroine gets a job she wants, but it is far away and will take her from the hero. Characters are forced to choose between lover and goal. Romance: Sub-genre: 16: Character arc what they need to learn to overcome the story conflict: this is where arc peaks. What do characters need to learn in order to overcome the situation? Hero: Heroine: 17. Dark night of the Soul/Black moment (the internal conflict): now thrown into the internal conflict. Romance: Sub-conflict: 18. The choice: stay together or go back to what they were in the beginning? Are they going to accept the change and accept the hard work? Romance: Sub-genre: 19. Second turning point/break into Act III: They have to sacrifice something for the other person. Each have to do this separately and then they will deserve their happily ever after. Romance: Sub-genre: Act III 20. Storming the castle: ex. Luke gets suited up and it going to blow up the death star. This leads to the show down. 21. Showdown with the villain/final conflict: Solidarity has given them what they need to defeat the villain. Tell each other gave something up to be with each other. Romance: Sub-genre: 22. Finale: ex. Marriage proposal. Always have the romance last. They solve final issues. Romance: 23. The world is changed/final image: convince the reader that their love will last forever. (should mirror opening image)