Save the Cat is a concept created by Blake Snyder to refer to how to make your character compelling. There is a lot of misunderstanding about what "save the cat" means. Many people think that saving the cat just means you have to have a likable character who goes out and saves a cat, so we know that they are the good guy. However, this is just one way of making a character compelling.

In the book "Save the Cat", Blake Snyder goes into many other ways that you can make a character compelling without having them be likable. For example:

1. Competence: We as humans like to see people who are good at their jobs.
2. Oppression: You can make an anti-hero who is not very likable, but make them severely oppressed by someone even worse.
3. Humor: A character with a good sense of humor is a feature that most humans appreciate.
4. Kindness: Doing an act of kindness, like the literal "saving the cat", can build empathy between the character and the reader.

The whole point of doing these things is to build empathy between the character and the reader. If the reader cannot build empathy with the character, there will be absolutely no interest in the story. Every story needs a character that the reader cares about from the very start, which is why I'm putting "save the cat" in the S-tier.

Often at the start of every story, there is a moment where the character realizes that if they stay the way they are, they're not going to have a good time of it and they're going to experience some form of death - whether that's physical, literal death of themselves or the death of a loved one, or perhaps something that's not literal death but could be financial death, social death, or a mental/emotional death.

There's got to be this realization early on that there is something that if the character doesn't change, if they don't get over their flaw, if they don't go out of their comfort zone and leave their Ordinary World, they're going to eventually have some kind of death happen to them. This "hint of death" is what we want the character to overcome.

This is a little bit more of an advanced technique, as it's something that may not be seen in simpler or more straightforward stories like children's books. But it is an important element that helps drive the character's growth and the rising tension of the plot.

For these reasons, I'm placing the "hint of death" at the C tier in my ranking of plot elements. It's an important tool, but not as universally essential as some of the top-tier items.

The inciting incident is extremely universal in storytelling. It is also called "The Call to Adventure." There are many other names for it, including genre-specific names - in the romance genre, for example, this is called the "meet cute" where the two characters meet for the first time.

The inciting incident is probably the most universally accepted moment in storytelling, except maybe the climax. The inciting incident is an essential part of storytelling even at the scene level - every single scene should have a minor inciting incident that gets the scene going and kicks off the conflict. If there is no conflict in a scene, then that scene should not be written, because without conflict, there is no story.

For these reasons, the inciting incident is one of the most critical moments in a story. It is the moment when the conflict really gets ramped up and set in motion. Sometimes the inciting incident can happen as early as the first page, which is why I am placing it in the S tier - the highest tier, reserved for the most essential and universal plot elements.

The first plot point is basically the moment of transition between Act One and Act Two. This is the moment where the character, after having gone through the inciting incident and other earlier events, will be moving from their old, comfortable world into a new, unfamiliar world outside of their comfort zone.

This moment of transition can be a defining one for the character, and it's where the conflict really starts to kick into high gear. The story begins to take off as the promise of the premise is revealed.

The first plot point is an essential part of the rising action and increasing tension throughout the story. It's a crucial turning point that accelerates the overall plot. For these reasons, I'm placing the first plot point in the A tier, as it's a highly important plot element.

The B story is a moment in the first part of the second act where the character gets a glimpse of what they need to change. We've already had a glimpse of this already at the beginning when the theme is introduced or with the opening image, as well as everything we've talked about regarding the refusal of the call. The refusal of the call is largely usually grounded in the thing that the character is unwilling to give up.

There's a scene usually involving a love interest, a side character, or the mentor character who really takes a moment to talk to the protagonist and give them information. Usually, there's something that tells them they need to actually change some things about themselves. It might not be as direct as that, but that's basically what the B story is.

It's an important moment to really explore the theme of the story. This scene is one of a few throughout the story that really dive into the central theme. That said, this is not one I would keep if I were doing a shorter story, but it is an important one which is why I would put it here at the A tier. You'll notice a theme developing among the A tier options - they're all very character development related, which is why I rank them so highly.

The first pinch point is a crucial moment in the story where the protagonist faces increased pressure and urgency. This is a point where the conflict starts to heighten, and the antagonist begins to close in on the protagonist.

After the inciting incident kicks off the main conflict, the first pinch point adds a new layer of tension. Something happens that raises the stakes and forces the protagonist to take more decisive action. This could be:

• A new threat or obstacle that the protagonist must overcome
• The antagonist making a bold move that puts the protagonist on the defensive
• A deadline or time pressure that the protagonist must respond to

The first pinch point is part of the rising action, building towards the midpoint and eventual climax. It's a point where the story starts to pick up momentum, and the protagonist can no longer passively react to events. They must become more proactive in pursuing their goal and overcoming the antagonist's efforts.

While not as essential as the inciting incident or climax, the first pinch point is an important structural element that helps maintain narrative tension and forward progression. It's a common feature in many successful stories across different genres and mediums.

The midpoint is a crucial moment in the story, often occurring exactly in the middle of the narrative. This is the turning point where the character has another "hint of death" moment, realizing that if they don't make a change, everything is going to fall apart.

Even in more plot-oriented stories that don't have a strong character arc, the midpoint is a moment of self-reflection where the character experiences some kind of change that turns the tide in one direction or the other. There is usually a false victory or false defeat at this point.

The midpoint is the turning point where the protagonist starts to shift from being reactive to being more proactive, taking action to try and resolve the conflict. It's a pivotal moment that marks the transition from the first half of the story to the second half.

Because of the importance of the midpoint in driving the rising action and tension of the story, I'm placing it in the S-tier, the most crucial plot elements that should be present in any successful narrative.

The second pinch point is another moment where the characters are put under increased pressure and the conflict is heightened. It comes after the "bad guys close in" section, where the antagonist has been taking a more proactive approach against the protagonist.

This second pinch point is similar to the first pinch point, but even more dire. The characters are facing an even greater challenge, and the stakes are higher. It could involve a literal battle or a more internal, figurative struggle.

The purpose of the second pinch point is to continue building the rising tension and conflict, pushing the protagonist to their limits before the climactic final confrontation. It's another crucial turning point that forces the character to dig deeper and make difficult decisions.

While not as universally essential as some of the other plot points, the second pinch point is an important part of the story's rising action and increasing stakes. I've ranked it at the same level as the first pinch point, in the A tier, because it serves a similar function in heightening the conflict and pressure on the protagonist.

The All Is Lost Moment

The All Is Lost moment is a crucial turning point in a story where the protagonist faces their darkest hour. This is the moment where everything seems to have fallen apart, and the character is left feeling completely hopeless and defeated.

This moment is often preceded by the "Bad Guys Close In" sequence, where the antagonist gains the upper hand and the protagonist is left scrambling to survive. The All Is Lost moment takes this to the next level, leaving the character with no clear path forward.

Some key characteristics of the All Is Lost moment:

• It represents the protagonist's lowest point, where all hope seems lost.
• It forces the character to confront their deepest fears and insecurities.
• It's a moment of reckoning, where the character must decide whether to give up or find the strength to carry on.
• It's a turning point that sets up the climactic final act of the story.

The All Is Lost moment is an essential plot point that creates intense drama and raises the stakes for the protagonist. By putting the character through this crucible, it allows for powerful character growth and transformation in the final act.

While not every story will have a distinct "All Is Lost" moment, it's a highly effective tool for creating a gripping narrative arc. When used effectively, it can make the protagonist's eventual triumph all the more satisfying and meaningful for the audience.

The "giving up" moment is a crucial plot point that often accompanies the "All Is Lost" moment. After the character experiences the devastating "All Is Lost" moment where everything seems hopeless, the "giving up" moment shows the character's inner conflict and how deeply the failure is affecting them.

This is a time when the character may feel completely defeated, wanting to give up on their goal or mission. They may express feelings of despair, hopelessness, or a loss of will to continue. This low point for the character is an important part of their emotional journey and character development.

The "giving up" moment serves to heighten the drama and tension, making the character's eventual triumph all the more meaningful. It demonstrates the magnitude of the challenge they are facing and the personal struggle they must overcome.

This plot point is often followed by a "pep talk" from a mentor or ally, which helps the character regain their resolve and motivation to keep fighting. The contrast between the character's moment of surrender and their eventual perseverance is a powerful narrative device.

Including the "giving up" moment is an effective way to create a compelling character arc and raise the stakes for the climactic confrontation. It shows the depth of the character's inner turmoil and makes their eventual success or transformation all the more impactful for the reader or viewer.

This is a crucial moment where a character, usually the mentor or the love interest or another supporting character who has been along for the ride, offers the protagonist a pep talk. This allows the character to get over themselves and get going again after the "All Is Lost" moment.

The pep talk is a very important moment, as it gives the protagonist the motivation and encouragement they need to face the final challenge against the antagonist. It's a moment of external influence that helps the character overcome their internal struggles and doubts.

Without this pep talk, the protagonist may remain stuck in their "giving up" state, unable to summon the resolve to seize the sword and take on the final battle. The pep talk is what reignites the character's determination and gives them the strength to push forward.

This is a common and essential plot point that you'll see in many successful stories across different mediums. It's a way to reenergize the character and the audience, building anticipation for the climactic showdown to come. The pep talk is a key part of the character's arc, helping them overcome their flaws and weaknesses to achieve their goal.

Seizing the sword is basically exactly what it sounds like - there's a moment where the character needs to prepare to face the antagonist one last time. Seizing the sword is a metaphor for gathering the team, gathering any tools that they need, and creating a plan to take on the antagonist in the final battle.

Some of this can be done very quickly, which is why I'm not going to rank it on the S or even the A tier. It's sort of an extension of everything we've talked about with giving up and the pep talk, which are much more character-focused and very important for that reason.

Seizing the sword is just a minor plot element that's a prelude to the climax, so I'm going to put it here in the B tier. But for all intents and purposes, it's a very important moment in the story.

Every story, good story at least, has a climax. It moves from the inciting incident to the climax - those are probably the two most important moments that you'll see. You'll see them in children's books, you'll see them in short stories, you'll see them in comic books, you'll see them even in flash fiction. You'll see them on the scene level - every scene, like I said, should have an inciting incident, should have a climax, among other things.

It is the most crucial moment. It is perhaps the most important moment of the story, because it's where everything comes to a head. It's where the theme gets to shine. It's where we get to really look at why this story matters, what is the change that occurs to make this story matter. And that is the climax. That's why I put it up here at the S tier with all of these others. These are basically every single one of these are the crucial turning points for not just the plot, but also for the character.

Every story has a resolution, and it's just a moment - not particularly action-packed or exciting, but a moment of reflection. You can't just have a climax and then end it there. You have to have a moment of reflection to understand what the story was about and why it was important.

The resolution also gives us an opportunity to see how the character has changed over the course of the story, especially if the character has some kind of return to their place of origin, their Ordinary World, where you can really see the difference in what has changed overall.

That's why the resolution is another S-tier moment, because you'll see these pretty much in every single story, even if it's very brief.