Beats are the back-and-forth, action-and reaction, cause-and-effect elements of fiction. Progressions are beats arranged in a way that flows and creates intensity, revelation, and the sense of rising action. Carry through on the wider consequences of your action to create energy and complexity within and across scenes.

Rule of thumb: you can drop every third beat of a fight scene and it will be quicker, but still make sense.

#wonderbook