This is the first beat of Act 1 and it serves as a "before" snapshot of your main character.
Opening Image
What is the main theme in "We Are All Going Through Something"?
Mental Health
How do you indicate a time jump in a story?
***
OR
A larger paragraph break
Where were Trevor and his mom going in Born a Crime?
Church
What is 1 type of vegetable that Mr. Shah has grown before? (Tomatoes don't count)
Acceptable answers: basil, parsley, zucchini, butternut squash, eggplant, okra, spinach, lettuce, carrots, beets, celery, onion, garlic, sage
And many more!
The hero must prove that they really have learned the theme and have transformed.
Finale
Whom are the characters protesting against in "Persepolis"?
The Shah (specifically Shah Reza Pahlavi)
Mr. Shah looked outside. "It's a beautiful day."
What writing tool is: "Mr. Shah looked outside."
Action tag
True or False: Mr. Shah can dunk a basketball.
False
Mr. Shah has no hops!
This moment is the lowest point of the novel. It's an action beat where something happens to the hero that, combined with their internal bad guys, pushes the hero to rock bottom.
All Is Lost
After the neighbor breaks up with Marjane's maid Mehri, why does Marjane decide to protest the Shah?
Class Differences
What 2 things should an author accomplish in the first 100 words.
1) Establish conflict
2) Cultivate character empathy
Why did Hasan internalize what Bethany Reed's family did to him?
Hasan considered Bethany's parents to be kind, respectable people, so he believed them.
Which of the following is not 1 of Mr. Shah's favorite hobbies?
a) Painting with oil paints
b) Birding
c) Reading murder mysteries
d) Playing basketball
e) Cooking
a) painting with oil paints
It's usually presented in the form of a question (such as "Should I go?" or "What do I do?"). The purpose of this beat is to show the hero's reluctance to change.
Debate
Why was the prisoner grateful to hear that he wouldn't have an execution date in the next year in "Higher Ground"?
He can now have his family visit without having to tell them an execution date.
Perched in the branches of the birch tree, she twittered her laughter.
What type of phrase is: "perched in the branches of the birch tree"?
A participial phrase
Why was the South African minibus system run by gangs?
The South African government provided no public transportation for Black people.
What does Mr. Shah love the most?
a) his basketball shoes
b) his signed copy of The Hate U Give
c) the sun
d) his airpods (music is life)
c) the sun
This is another reaction beat where the hero takes time to process everything that's happened thus far.
Dark Night Of The Soul
Whom does Kevin Love say inspired him to open up about his mental health challenges?
DeMar DeRozan
How do you indicate an interruption of thought or dialogue in writing?
An em-dash (--)
What is the name of the system of institutionalized racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa from 1948 to the early 1990s.
Apartheid
How long has Mr. Shah been married? (Mr. Shah is 31)
a) 3 years
b) 5 years
c) 10 years
d) 20 years
c) 10 years