Before National Novel Writing Month, we were talking about something, weren’t we?

Oh yes! How to draft a novel. And specifically, I think we’re on to endings now, which is just fabulous, because who doesn’t like to write THE END?

Before we can finish a story though, all our building, all our conflict and rising stakes, all the work we’ve put in developing characters with problems readers will care about–all of that must come to it’s highest point of tension. We call this the story’s climax.

Sometimes it’s referred to as the final battle, but as Stephanie talked about so deftly the other day, every story is different and a literal battle isn’t always going to fit, especially if you’re writing historical or contemporary works.

And still, every good story requires that the hero come face to face with the lie he or she has been believing. This moment is often called The Dark Night of the Soul, and Jill does a fantastic job discussing it here.

The Dark Night of the Soul leads directly to a moment of truth, where the hero finally rejects the lie and embraces the truth of his situation or position. Once a hero’s done that, they’re armed to face their greatest challenge without illusion or delusion to weaken them or bar their way. 

The hero knows exactly what’s at stake when they walk into the climactic moment. In most stories, the reader knows too. It’s what makes that encounter so strong. All the cards are on the table, in plain view of everyone, and now we find out if our hero can emerge victorious.

Here are some things to consider as you draft your climax:

Could the stakes be any higher?

As your hero transitions from their moment of truth into the most escalated conflict in the entire story, the stakes should be as high as possible. Ask yourself, what happens if my hero loses this battle? What happens if they win? If the outcome won’t dramatically affect the hero and the world around them, then you probably need to find a way to raise the stakes. If your hero doesn’t care whether he or she walks away victorious, neither will the reader. This moment must matter.

Is the climax inevitable?

If the final conflict can be sidestepped with little to no consequences for your hero, you’ve dropped the ball somewhere. There must be some inevitability about this collision which means the climax needs to relate directly to the story problem you established early on in your draft. What is the problem your hero must solve before story’s end? That problem must be addressed in the climax.

Are all the pieces in place?

One of the trickier parts of drafting a novel is getting all your characters where they need to be when you need them there. This may take some jockeying and editing, but consider who all is required at the scene of the climax, and then orchestrate situations to get them there. Sometimes it’s more than just characters who need to hit their cues, but as you lead into this moment, maybe take a sec and jot down everything you need to shift into place so that you can pull this climax off just as you envision it.

How does your setting highlight this important moment?

The best part about writing any story is that you can do with it as you will. Before you write your climactic scene, let yourself daydream a bit. If you could set it anywhere, anywhere at all, where would this final battle of sorts take place? Sometimes this all-important moment must be set in a particular location–your story demands it. But sometimes, as you transition out of the moment of truth, you have the opportunity to choose a battleground. Choose one that will stick with the reader. Choose a setting that meets all your needs as an author. Choose a location that provides you the kind of conflict and tension that will enhance this collision of forces you’ve been building toward. A wise choice here will pay off in dividends.

Now, you tell me. When you’re drafting your climactic scene, what elements are important to you?