A book has many parts, in Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody, these “parts” are called the beats. One of these “beats” is the catalyst. A catalyst is an event that drives the main character to be involved with the rest of the book. Jessica Brody says in Save the Cat! Writes a Novel that, “The Catalyst will crash land in your hero’s life and create so much destruction, your hero will have no choice but to do something different. Try something new. Go somewhere else” (page 38). This destructive event usually happens fairly early in the story and frequently occurs in a single moment. For example, someone gets a promotion, has a near-death experience, or gets fired. Every story needs a catalyst. There are many great catalysts out there and many great books that utilize them well, but today I want to look at one type of catalyst, the death catalyst.
The Death Catalyst
There are many kinds of “death” catalysts. There is a death in the family due to natural causes, there is murder, the death of an animal, and sometimes even the death that eventually turns out not to be a death, and more. Some may know the famous Agatha Christy book, Death on the Nile, which clearly states the catalyst in the title. As a matter of fact, most murder mysteries use the death catalyst (I say “most” only because I don’t want to assume that no one has ever succeeded at writing a murder mystery where something other than a death was the catalyst for the main character, but it seems unlikely). This catalyst is also commonly used in spy novels, fantasy, and more. In short, this catalyst can be a highly effective way to move a story forward.
Why is the Death Catalyst so Interesting?
So, what about the death catalyst is so fascinating? While I can’t speak for everyone, I would say the death catalyst is such a great one because of its high stakes. A death is a big event, even if it takes place in a small moment. Death weighs heavy on people’s minds, both for the characters in the books and the readers, and death is something that all of us will face one day. This means the presentation of a death will get the reader more involved with the story. Will more people die? Will they ever find out who did it? Is the killer still out there? Will the loss destroy the main character, or will they rise above and become someone stronger? The questions just keep coming. The death catalyst immediately sets the stakes high. Though the very similar, yet less permanent, catalyst of a near-death experience might raise the stakes differently, the death catalyst presents the main characters with a certain kind of emotional turmoil or mystery to solve. This turmoil or mystery quickly triggers emotions and gets the reader invested in the story, ready to dive into the rest of the main character’s life to find out what happens next.
A Classic Catalyst
The death catalyst is a classic. As mentioned before, it can be found in many genres. The most common one being murder mysteries. Someone stumbles upon a body, and they are thrust into finding out who killed the victim and why. This type of catalyst has been used in some of the most popular classics, such as the Agatha Christie books, Sherlock Holmes, and more. While this catalyst can be overused, when it is used correctly I think it is one of the best catalysts out there. I love a good “who done it” arc in any genre.
Have you found a good book outside the murder mystery category that uses the death catalyst?
Next week I will be taking a break from posting. But not to worry, I will be back in September! In the meantime, I would love to hear what content you like most on this blog. Please leave a comment and let me know. Thank you for your support!
Reference: Save the Cat! Write a Novel by Jessica Brody page 38.
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