One of the biggest challenges for scriptwriters is starting with a blank page. A great way to avoid creative blocks at this stage is to think big and start with the fundamentals of your story. There’ll be plenty of time for the devil in the details later.
Story development is the stage at which to really think about what events are most crucial to the story to be told. One great tool for building your story structure is the beat sheet.
What is a Beat Sheet?
A beat sheet is like a blueprint for your script. It outlines the key elements of your story and highlights important plot points that help the narrative move forward. Organizing a script into beats allows writers to examine the story structure, and to build out from those scenes that are fundamental to the progression of the story.
When to Use a Beat Sheet
Beat sheets (an evolution of index cards) are best used early in the story development process to make sure that the most important components of the story create the foundation of your script.
Another benefit of using a beat sheet early in the story development stage is that with tools like Celtx, you can export your beats to a script. With a few clicks, the beats become a script outline that’s ready to be expanded into a script.
But, it’s not the only time to use a beat sheet. Beat sheets can be very useful throughout the writing process. Ever feel like your script is lacking something and you just can’t figure it out? Seeing your script in beats can help you to spot missing scenes, or to identify elements of the story that don’t fit.
Learn more about adding, editing, and managing beats with Celtx beat sheets at the Celtx Help Center.
Beat Sheet Example
Here’s a sample beat sheet that was created in Celtx and follows the familiar three-act structure.
Act 1 is the setup of your story, where we meet characters and learn about their world. It’s the foundation of your story and a great way to get the audience invested in the journey ahead. Here you could group beats to outline exposition, inciting incident, and the first plot point of your script.
In Act 2, you raise the stakes and unfold the central conflict. At this point in the story, your characters must face obstacles, make difficult decisions, and learn valuable lessons. It’s an exciting act, so be sure to bring the action to keep your audience engaged. Add beats that outline the rising action, the midpoint of the story, and plot point 2.
Act 3 is when the conflict resolves, and your story reaches its climax. Your characters will apply what they’ve learned and put their plans into action, culminating in a resolution that will leave the protagonist (and hopefully your audience) changed forever. Group beats to outline the pre-climax, climax, and denouement.
Conclusion
A beat sheet is a story outlining tool for story development that can be a powerful resource throughout the scriptwriting process. Referring back to a beat sheet as you write can help you – and your story – to stay on-track.
Like there’s no one right way to tell a story, there’s no one right way to use beat sheets. But like storytelling, there are lots of great examples and guidance available that can help you harness the power of beat sheets in your own way.
More Beat Sheet Resources
- Celtx Beat Sheets – Create your own beat sheets in Celtx
- Save The Cat! Beat Sheet Examples – See beat sheets from popular films
- Story Structures – 7 types with examples and visuals
