The Debate Scene: 5 Reasons Why To Never Ignore It

Hey there!

Last week, we covered the story Catalyst—the inciting incident that changes everything for your main character.

Now, let’s talk about what comes next: the Debate scene. It's the final beat of Act 1 in a three-act structure, and it's just as crucial as the Catalyst because it begs one very important question of your main character:

“Do I want this?”

In this post, we'll explore the 5 reasons why the Debate scene is essential. Plus, we'll provide you with an AI prompt to help you kickstart your writing so you can help your hero (and readers) get ready for the adventure ahead and bridge the gap between their old world and new world.

Let's dive in!

Reason #1: It makes your characters real.

Change sucks. Nobody likes it.

So when your main character gets hit with a life-changing event in the Catalyst scene, they shouldn't just shrug and say, "Cool, let's go on an adventure!" That's not how real people act.

Real people freak out.

They try to pretend nothing happened. They look for easy ways out. The Debate scene is where you show all of that. It's like when my college friend Dave who got dumped and spent a week on my couch debating what to do next. He alternated between denial ("She'll call any minute now") and bargaining ("Maybe if I buy her flowers...").

Readers connect with characters who act like real people. Not cardboard cutouts.

Reason #2: It builds tension.

Imagine you’re going skydiving—for the first time.

The plane's climbing, your heart's racing, and all you can think is, "Why the heck did I agree to this?" That's what a good Debate scene feels like.

Take "The Hunger Games." Katniss volunteers as tribute, and then we get this great Debate scene where she's saying goodbye to her family. She's scared, she's trying to be brave, she's giving last-minute instructions to her sister.

And then the train ride…

Every second of that scene ratchets up the tension. By the time Katniss steps onto that train, we're fully invested. We care what happens next.

Without that scene, it'd just be another story about kids fighting to the death. With it, it's a story about a girl we care about facing impossible odds.

Reason #3: It sets up Act 2.

The Debate scene is the onramp to the highway of your story.

Skip it, and your readers get whiplash.

This is where your character decides to take on the challenge. But it's not an easy decision. It's like when you finally decided to quit your soul-sucking job to start your own business. You didn't just wake up one day and do it. You agonized. You made pros and cons lists. You talked to friends and family.

That process? It’s your Debate scene.

And it's what makes the rest of your story matter.

Reason #4: It gets the readers invested.

A lot of writers think they need to keep things moving at breakneck speed.

But that's like trying to get someone to marry you on the first date. It doesn't work. The Debate scene slows things down. It lets readers get to know your character. It's the difference between "Some guy decides to fight a dragon" and "John, who's terrified of lizards but needs the dragon's gold to save his village, reluctantly agrees to fight a dragon."

Which story would you rather read?

Reason #5: It sets up future challenges.

The Debate scene is where you plant the seeds for everything that's coming.

Let's say your main character is about to embark on a dangerous quest. In the Debate scene, have them talk to someone who's tried and failed before. Or have them research and discover just how impossible their task is.

For example, if you were going to run a marathon. What would you do first? Probably Google a training plan, read Reddit advice, and in the process get exposed to the horror stories of chafing and blisters. Do you quit? No

But you’ve got some perspective on what you are getting into.

How To Write Your Debate Scene With AI

Now that you know why the Debate scene matters, let's talk about how to write one —with AI.

But first, let's look at why so many writers mess this up.

The mistake? Rushing through it.

They think, "Okay, big event happened, now let's get to the action!" But that's like skipping foreplay and going straight to... well, you know. It might get the job done, but it's not gonna be great for anyone involved.

So here's how we fix that.

I'm going to give you a prompt that'll help you explore the possibilities of your Debate scene. It's like having a brainstorming session with a bestselling author, but without having to buy them coffee or pay their hourly rate.

Here's the prompt: