Save the Cat Breakdown Series - Part 16
Final Image
Save the Cat Breakdown Series, Part 15: Final Image
In the previous article, we explored the Save the Cat story beat of the Finale, where your protagonist acts upon the realisations they had in the Break Into Act 3 story beat and finally succeed (or fail) at their ultimate goal, fully acting in line with their need, as opposed to just their want. In this article, we are exploring the final story beat of the Final Image, which is a final snapshot of the protagonist’s new world.
What is the Final Image story beat?
The Final Image is usually the last chapter, or maybe an epilogue, where we see how the world has changed as a result of the protagonist’s actions. In a romance, we see the protagonist living happily (even just for now) with their beloved. In a thriller, we see the bad guy put behind bars. This is the moment where we give a sigh of satisfaction and close the book, content in the knowledge that all is well.
The Final Image is also, often, a reflection of the Opening Image. Where the Opening Image shows what the protagonist is missing from their life, whether they realise it or not, the Final Image shows that the protagonist now has what they were missing, sometimes in the same setting as the Opening Image to really show the contrast.
Finally, this is our chance to sow the seeds of a cliff hanger if we are writing a series. This is where we see that the conflict of this book has been wrapped up, and then… Something happens or something is discovered which once again threatens this new equilibrium and makes the reader instantly want to read the next book to find out what happens.
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