12 Comments
User's avatar
Marina Roa's avatar

I feel so seen and understood Dave! I would definetly like to try this and maybe event have a school space to experiment with it. It also just comes when I am starting my substack and writing is one of the things I struggle with as a visual thinker that you describe :P

Dave Gray's avatar

We have been working with beat sheets in our visual thinking seminar series. You might want to review those sessions here: https://schoolofthepossible.substack.com/p/studio-sessions-archive

Lorne's avatar

Interesting, Dave. Is there any merit is writing the last beat first, then the first, then fill in the middle? I've always found "back to front" thinking helps me create a better storyline.

Dave Gray's avatar

If you know where you want to end that's a great approach.

Me's avatar
7dEdited

A few of my favorite books like „Winnie the Pooh“, „Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver“ or in „80 days around the world“ have Beats in the title of each chapter. e.g. Chapter 7: "In which Kanga and Baby Roo Come to the Forest and Piglet has a Bath“

Kerstin Castle's avatar

Absolutely love the beat sheet and your explanation. I'm just trying it out now.

One of the most insightful bits of information you provided was that you think of three beats as a set that must fit together.

Tom Kerwin's avatar

Have grabbed Against Method – been meaning to read it for years but this sealed the deal.

I think this principle is also softly recommended in Write Useful Books, and is broadly how the Snowflake Method works for fiction https://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/articles/snowflake-method/. Also Billy Broas proposes a method of marketing that's constructed around a logical argument like Feyerabend's beats. So many connections!

Off to prepare a beat sheet now.

Marshall Kirkpatrick's avatar

Thank you Dave, and thank you Monday for bringing this to me! Wowsers!

Paul Sturrock's avatar

Very interesting. Will definitely give it a go. Thanks.

ProFound Insights's avatar

This is so beautiful I'm gonna cry.

Mike Parker's avatar

This is great practical actionable advice. Thanks

Mike Parker's avatar

That was my beat