Save the Cat Breakdown Series - B Story

In the previous article, we explored the Save the Cat story beat of Fun and Games, and how it is where the true meat of the story begins. It is the point where the protagonist is taking action to achieve their goal, often still blinded by their misbelief, and it is where the promises set up in the first act of the story are fulfilled. In this article, we are exploring a sub-beat of the Fun and Games, the B Story, or the subplot.

What is the B Story story beat?

This story beat is where a subplot is introduced, usually a love interest or a sidekick story that is woven in and out of the main plot of the story. It is most often used to convey the theme of the novel, but is also useful to explore character arcs and side characters. The B Story usually begins at around 22%, or at approximately 17,600 words.

For example, in Toy Story, the B Story is Buzz Lightyear’s misbelief that he actually is a space ranger. This becomes challenged when he sees an advert for himself as a toy and he must come to terms with the reality. This subplot is interwoven through the main plot of Woody’s story and it impacts not only Buzz’s own character arc, but Woody’s as well.

In my own novel, the B Story is where one of the protagonists learns that his mother has early onset dementia and his complete refusal to deal with this fact. This is a side story that, while it has nothing really to do with his main motivation of saving the small town ice rink, it leaks in to what he does and affects it in a way that prevents his drive from becoming one dimensional.

B Story in Disney’s Mulan

In Mulan, the B Story is the relationship between the commander Li Shang and Mulan (as Ping). Mulan is almost immediately attracted to Li Shang, though of course she needs to hide this in order to keep up the charade that she’s a man. Disney was not allowed to depict or even hint at homosexual relationships in the 1990s. Li Shang, for his part, is initially disdainful of Ping, believing him to be weak and incompetent and, to quote the song, “You’re not fit for the rage of war.”

Their relationship develops over the course of the whole movie, of course, but the first turning point is when Mulan successfully climbs the pole and retrieves the arrow from the top while carrying the two heavy weights. She is the first to do this and thus wins the commander’s initial respect, enough so that she proves her worth to stay in the army.

B Story in Flewelling’s Luck in the Shadows

In Luck in the Shadows, the B Story is introduced when we meet the character of Micum, a soldier, long-time friend of Seregil, and a saviour to Alec when he rescues him from a bunch of slave traders. He then warns the pair that they have become wanted men and escape the town with them. He fights alongside them when they are ambushed by pretend bandits and, like Seregil, seems to know more than he is letting on about what’s going on in the world around them. This begins on page 59 and continues through to when he takes his leave from the pair on page 103. This means the B Story in Luck in the Shadows begins at 12% and he leaves the group at 21%.

Micum’s subplot continues throughout the entire book and he eventually becomes an integral part of the story, but it is at this moment that he is introduced to Alec and the reader. We learn he is a straight talker and far less shady than Seregil, preferring an honest and upright approach to things in a way that resonates with Alec’s temperament.

Final Thoughts

The B Story is a subplot that is introduced at this point in your novel but is interwoven throughout the entire story. It is usually a side character or a love interest that helps the protagonist achieve what they have set out to do.

Next time we are exploring the Midpoint, where the story picks up in intensity. I hope you look forward to it.