The Dark Night of the Soul beat is another debate (Debate Beat), and it comes right at the end of Act 2. Every time there is a traumatic event - Catalyst (The Catalyst Beat), All Is Lost (All is Lost Beat), High Tower Surprise (Finale Beat) - then it must be followed by a debate. These debates all serve the same purpose. For the hero to reel from, mull over, and ultimately decide how they will move forward. They're check-ins to see where they still need to grow.

So, after the lowest point (All is Lost Beat) of the hero's arc, they have to have a multi-scene debate that is just as deep and introspective. It's long, tumultuous, and includes the Dark Night Epiphany where all the clues finally click into place. The hero finally finally sees where they've been doing things wrong and they know what they need to do to change.

But before they get to the epiphany, you should have them basically give up for a bit. Have them step back into the Act 1 world (The Setup Beat) (or at least try to) - they need to find some comfort in the familiar. And in that relative comfort, they can have their epiphany which leads them into Act 3 (Break Into Act 3 Beat), the synthesis world.

Citations

• Save the Cat! Writes a Novel
• 15 Story Beats

#toolong #writing