Smitford Plot Terms:
Act
Sequence
QUOTE
NOTE
QUESTIONS
SOURCES
Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WZFvVGLd2adoWR-WOkzUvC3Pk80oxArhxd1-1Vw09CQ/edit
Romancing the Beat
http://gwenhayes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/RtB_worksheet.pdf
Jami Gold Romance Beat Sheet
https://jamigold.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Romance-Beat-Sheet1.jpg
Save the Cat
https://timstout.wordpress.com/story-structure/blake-snyders-beat-sheet/
Smitford: 11/30/2021 / Update: 11/30/2021
Smitford Plot Terms: Epilogue – Final Image & Resolution – Final Image
Act
Sequence
| Epilogue | Final Image & Resolution | Final Image |
QUOTE
NOTE
QUESTIONS
SOURCES
Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WZFvVGLd2adoWR-WOkzUvC3Pk80oxArhxd1-1Vw09CQ/edit
Romancing the Beat
http://gwenhayes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/RtB_worksheet.pdf
Jami Gold Romance Beat Sheet
https://jamigold.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Romance-Beat-Sheet1.jpg
Save the Cat
https://timstout.wordpress.com/story-structure/blake-snyders-beat-sheet/
Smitford: 11/30/2021 / Update: 11/30/2021
Smitford Plot Terms: What Whole Hearted Looks Like – Final Image & Resolution – Final Image – opposite of Opening Image, proving, visually, that a change has occurred within the character.
Act
Sequence
| What Whole Hearted Looks Like | Final Image & Resolution | Final Image – opposite of Opening Image, proving, visually, that a change has occurred within the character. |
QUOTE
Resolution. 98% to 100%. Page 196-200. Chapter 13 Page 204
Ease readers out of the excitement of the climax and into the final emotion.
(KM Weiland, https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/novel-writing-checklist/)
NOTE
QUESTIONS
SOURCES
Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WZFvVGLd2adoWR-WOkzUvC3Pk80oxArhxd1-1Vw09CQ/edit
Romancing the Beat
http://gwenhayes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/RtB_worksheet.pdf
Jami Gold Romance Beat Sheet
https://jamigold.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Romance-Beat-Sheet1.jpg
Save the Cat
https://timstout.wordpress.com/story-structure/blake-snyders-beat-sheet/
Smitford: 11/30/2021 / Update: 11/30/2021
Smitford Plot Terms: Grand Gesture – Climax – Act Three: Finale – This time around, the main character incorporates the Theme – the nugget of truth that now makes sense to them – into their fight for the goal because they have experience from the A Story and context from the B Story. Act Three is about Synthesis!
Act
Sequence
| Grand Gesture | Climax | Act Three Finale – This time around, the main character incorporates the Theme – the nugget of truth that now makes sense to them – into their fight for the goal because they have experience from the A Story and context from the B Story. Act Three is about Synthesis! |
QUOTE
Climactic moment. 98% mark. Page 196.
The moment the protagonists goal is met, it becomes a physical impossibility for the conflict to continue.
(KM Weiland, https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/novel-writing-checklist/)
NOTE
QUESTIONS
SOURCES
Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WZFvVGLd2adoWR-WOkzUvC3Pk80oxArhxd1-1Vw09CQ/edit
Romancing the Beat
http://gwenhayes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/RtB_worksheet.pdf
Jami Gold Romance Beat Sheet
https://jamigold.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Romance-Beat-Sheet1.jpg
Save the Cat
https://timstout.wordpress.com/story-structure/blake-snyders-beat-sheet/
Smitford: 11/30/2021 / Update: 11/30/2021
Smitford Plot Terms: Wake Up – Act Three: Climax – Break Into Three
Wake Up – Act Three: Climax – Break Into Three (Choosing Act Three) – Thanks to a fresh idea, new inspiration, or last-minute Thematic advice from the B Story (usually the love interest), the main character chooses to try again.
Act
Sequence
| Wake Up | Act Three Climax | Break Into Three (Choosing Act Three) – Thanks to a fresh idea, new inspiration, or last-minute Thematic advice from the B Story (usually the love interest), the main character chooses to try again. |
QUOTE
Confrontation. 88% to 98%. Page 176-196
Duel to the death. Literal or metaphorical. What occurs here in Shores protagonist and antagonist cannot both walk away.
(KM Weiland, https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/novel-writing-checklist/)
NOTE
QUESTIONS
SOURCES
Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WZFvVGLd2adoWR-WOkzUvC3Pk80oxArhxd1-1Vw09CQ/edit
Romancing the Beat
http://gwenhayes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/RtB_worksheet.pdf
Jami Gold Romance Beat Sheet
https://jamigold.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Romance-Beat-Sheet1.jpg
Save the Cat
https://timstout.wordpress.com/story-structure/blake-snyders-beat-sheet/
Smitford: 11/30/2021 / Update: 11/30/2021
Smitford Plot Terms: Phase 4: Fighting for Love – Dark Night – Crisis – Dark Night of the Soul
Phase 4: Fighting for Love – Dark Night – Crisis – Dark Night of the Soul – The main character hits bottom, and wallows in hopelessness. The Why hast thou forsaken me, Lord? moment. Mourning the loss of what has “died” – the dream, the goal, the mentor character, the love of your life, etc. But, you must fall completely before you can pick yourself back up and try again.
Act 3
Sequence 16
| Phase 4: Fighting for Love | — | — |
| Dark Night | Crisis | Dark Night of the Soul – The main character hits bottom, and wallows in hopelessness. The Why hast thou forsaken me, Lord? moment. Mourning the loss of what has “died” – the dream, the goal, the mentor character, the love of your life, etc. But, you must fall completely before you can pick yourself back up and try again. |
QUOTE
Climax begins. 88% mark. Page 176. Chapter 11 Page 181
This Turning Point forces the protagonist and the antagonist to finally face each other.
(KM Weiland, https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/novel-writing-checklist/)
NOTE
QUESTIONS
SOURCES
Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WZFvVGLd2adoWR-WOkzUvC3Pk80oxArhxd1-1Vw09CQ/edit
Romancing the Beat
http://gwenhayes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/RtB_worksheet.pdf
Jami Gold Romance Beat Sheet
https://jamigold.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Romance-Beat-Sheet1.jpg
Save the Cat
https://timstout.wordpress.com/story-structure/blake-snyders-beat-sheet/
Smitford: 11/30/2021 / Update: 11/30/2021
Smitford Plot Terms: Break Up – Crisis – All is Lost
Act 2
Sequence 15
| Break Up | Crisis | All is Lost |
QUOTE
NOTE
QUESTIONS
SOURCES
Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WZFvVGLd2adoWR-WOkzUvC3Pk80oxArhxd1-1Vw09CQ/edit
Romancing the Beat
http://gwenhayes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/RtB_worksheet.pdf
Jami Gold Romance Beat Sheet
https://jamigold.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Romance-Beat-Sheet1.jpg
Save the Cat
https://timstout.wordpress.com/story-structure/blake-snyders-beat-sheet/
Smitford: 11/30/2021 / Update: 11/30/2021
Smitford Plot Terms: Shields Up – Crisis – All is Lost
Act 2
Sequence 11
| Shields Up | Crisis | All is Lost |
QUOTE
Recovery. 75% to 88%. Page 150-176.
Protagonist reels as he questions his choices, his commitment to his goal, and his own worth and ability.
(KM Weiland, https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/novel-writing-checklist/)
NOTE
QUESTIONS
SOURCES
Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WZFvVGLd2adoWR-WOkzUvC3Pk80oxArhxd1-1Vw09CQ/edit
Romancing the Beat
http://gwenhayes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/RtB_worksheet.pdf
Jami Gold Romance Beat Sheet
https://jamigold.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Romance-Beat-Sheet1.jpg
Save the Cat
https://timstout.wordpress.com/story-structure/blake-snyders-beat-sheet/
Smitford: 11/30/2021 / Update: 11/30/2021
Smitford Plot Terms: Retreat Beat – Crisis – All Is Lost
– The opposite moment from the Midpoint: “awful”/“great”. The moment that the main character realizes they’ve lost everything they gained, or everything they now have has no meaning. The initial goal now looks even more impossible than before. And here, something or someone dies. It can be physical or emotional, but the death of something old makes way for something new to be born.
Act
Sequence
| Retreat Beat | Crisis | All Is Lost – The opposite moment from the Midpoint: “awful”/“great”. The moment that the main character realizes they’ve lost everything they gained, or everything they now have has no meaning. The initial goal now looks even more impossible than before. And here, something or someone dies. It can be physical or emotional, but the death of something old makes way for something new to be born. |
QUOTE
Third act timeline.
Third plot Point 75% Mark. Page 150. Chapter 10 Page 163
A dark moment for the character. After the victory at the end of the second act he experiences a reversal.
(KM Weiland, https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/novel-writing-checklist/)
NOTE
QUESTIONS
SOURCES
Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WZFvVGLd2adoWR-WOkzUvC3Pk80oxArhxd1-1Vw09CQ/edit
Romancing the Beat
http://gwenhayes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/RtB_worksheet.pdf
Jami Gold Romance Beat Sheet
https://jamigold.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Romance-Beat-Sheet1.jpg
Save the Cat
https://timstout.wordpress.com/story-structure/blake-snyders-beat-sheet/
Smitford: 11/30/2021 / Update: 11/30/2021
Smitford Plot Terms: Deepening Doubt – Crisis – Bad Guys Close In
Act 2
Sequence 12
| Deepening Doubt | Crisis | Bad Guys Close In |
QUOTE
Renewed push. 62% to 75%. Page 124-150. Chapter 9 Page 145
Protagonist renews attack upon the antagonist he reaches the seeming victory.
(KM Weiland, https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/novel-writing-checklist/)
NOTE
QUESTIONS
SOURCES
Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WZFvVGLd2adoWR-WOkzUvC3Pk80oxArhxd1-1Vw09CQ/edit
Romancing the Beat
http://gwenhayes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/RtB_worksheet.pdf
Jami Gold Romance Beat Sheet
https://jamigold.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Romance-Beat-Sheet1.jpg
Save the Cat
https://timstout.wordpress.com/story-structure/blake-snyders-beat-sheet/
Smitford: 11/30/2021 / Update: 11/30/2021
