Writing Masterclass: Climaxes

 Read Time: 10-15 minutes

Writing Masterclass: Climaxes 

| how to write an epic climax for ANY genre & the secret ingredient that makes your climax MEMORABLE |

Hello, Sweet Friend! 

Let’s talk about the climax of a story. 

In the last Masterclass I did, I got a Masterclass request for how to write a climax? The climax is such a big part of your story. It is the moment right after the “aha moment”—the moment when your characters win their internal battle (they realize they have been believing in a lie (their misbelief) and they are able to see the truth and overcome their fear). 

Now comes the moment when your character fights their external battle (though it does not have to be a “battle”—this coming from a writer of 3 contemporary stories with no battle or action scenes) and proves that they have been changed as result of their journey (the whole book leading up to this point). 

Your whole book has been leading up to this moment. 

It is the part your internal and external battle meet. The internal battle is going to be resolved (whether that is in a good way or bad way is up to you). The external battle is now being fought and victory (or defeat) is now upon us. 

What is the CLIMAX & what does the CLIMAX look like? 

The climax can be a big battle: your hero fighting against the villain, the hero saving the love interest, etc. But it doesn’t have to the only way. It can also be small like realizing your self worth or forgiving someone. 

With each of these comes a special ingredient = internal conflict. 

This climax has to MATTER to your characters.

Even in life and death situations (war, battle, etc) you still need something more that matters to your character—your main character—specifically. There has to be a different stake for your character—a reason why they need to win this battle more than just living. If they don’t have their own personal stakes in the climax/confrontation then it can fall flat because then they are just like every other character and they don’t really matter. 

We could be watching this story unfold from any character and it wouldn’t make a difference. You do not want your story to be like that. Because if it is then there is no reason why we, the reader, should love and root for this character. 

My TOP TIP for the climax: 

Focus on the character(s) and what is happening internally not only externally. 

So often I see books and stories get to the climax of their story and they fall flat. I think the reason why is because it is focusing on and only on what is happening externally. By doing this they miss the entire reason why there is even a climax—the point of the story. 

Battle scenes, action, spaceships, and explosions are all cool and exciting but…they don’t matter. They aren’t the reason why we are invested in this story. No, we are invested in the characters. We are following the characters and their story. The external plot is all fun but it can go nowhere without the characters. The characters are what drives the plot. They are what your story is really about. Not the external stuff, your characters and what they are going through is what matters and is what the story is even about. So, you need your characters to be a part of your climax.

More than that, you need to show how this (the climax) relates to your character.

• How does it affect them? 

• How are they showing up? 

• How have they changed since the start of the book and how does this moment (the climax) show that? How does it show your character has changed? 

Showing how your character has changed 

In my last question (said above) I asked “How have they [your character] changed since the start of the book and how does this moment (the climax) show that? How does it show your character has changed?” 

Why is this important to the climax? 

Your character started off a certain way (they believe a lie, a misbelief, they are struggling, broken, or something. They are not who they are meant to be. There is something off or wrong in their lives (or something bad or wrong happens which starts the story) and it is why this story exists). But your character does not stay that way. That is the (or a very big part of the) story. Everything has been leading to this moment. They have changed or learned something they did not know before. 

For example: In the beginning of Peter Pan, Wendy wants to never grow up and stay a child forever. But in the end she returns home and does indeed grow up. “She was one of the kind that likes to grow up. In the end she grew up of her own free will a day quicker than other girls,”—J.M. Barrie. 

This is change. Wendy went from not want to grow up to wanting and liking growing up. It doesn’t have to be a big or drastic change, it can be quite and simple, but there is still a change. This can be mental, physical, a change in belief, etc. 

To Help…

Here are three case study examples for different genres (fantasy with battle, fantasy without battle, and contemporary) so you can see exactly what I’m talking about! I’ll also be combining the climax with the victory moment (that doesn’t mean there has to be an actual victory) so you can see that whole sequence together (because it is a sequence—the climax and victory going hand in hand). 

Note: I will be spoiler-ing all of the below stories so if there is a story you have not seen (as I’m using movie examples) then you can skip that example or just read the spoiler. XD 

 

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Fantasy (with no battle) 

Cinderella 2015

I LOVE THIS MOVIE! It’s so good and the climax/victory moment is one of my FAVORITES! There is no epic battle or action scenes but this is my favorite of these examples and is how I structure a lot of my stories. 

To me, the climax is the moment Cinderella goes to Kit and she puts on the glass slipper and she reveals who she is. But taking that even further (and it’s why I’m combining the climax and victory together) is one of my favorite moments. 

Cinderella’s victory is not putting on the glass slipper, her victory—her battle being won—is when she forgives her stepmother. Ahh! That part always gives me chills and makes me teary eyed. Her tormentor she forgives. She does not seek revenge but forgives. This is such a Christian theme and is why this is one of my favorite stories because of this beautiful theme of forgiveness. 

The thing I love so much about this is that it brings the focus to Cinderella and her story. 

We know why seeing Kit and putting on that glass slipper is so important to her because we have watched her put others before herself always and in this moment she is standing strong in who she is, unashamed, and is doing something for herself. 

Paired with this we see why forgiving her stepmother is so important and such a victory. She could have taken revenge or even ignored her stepfamily’s existence but instead she FORGIVES. Throughout this story we have seen her work to be kind and have courage. What is more kind and courageous than forgiving the person who has hurt you? 

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Fantasy (with battle) 

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe 

This book and movie are SO good! I LOVE everything about Narnia and what’s a better fantasy battle to talk about than the epic battle at the end of Narnia?

While this could have been just a battle scene that you see and later don’t really recall like countless others, it’s not. Why? Because even in the action and battle scenes we are focused on the Pevensie siblings. 

The climax happens in two parts. 

First when Peter, Edmund, and the narnians go to battle with The White Witch. 

Second when Aslan wakes up. When he wakes up, he takes Susan and Lucy to the White Witch’s ice palace and sets free Mr. Tumnus and the other trapped creatures. You see why this is important to the sisters. They watched Aslan die to save their brother and now they get him back and their hope back. They rally together to help. 

Meanwhile, the Narnians and the White Witch and her goons fight. Back and forth this goes and then…Aslan along with Susan, Lucy, and all the freed Narnians come to join the battle against the witch (joining the two parts into one). Here comes a really beautiful moment between Peter and Edmund. 

Edmund went from a boy who made mistakes and was willing to in a way sell his siblings for teats to being saved by Aslan and changed. Of all the siblings he has the greatest change from start to finish. Edmund fights the White Witch and she wounds him. 

Peter, who had been at odds with Edmund most of the time, sees this and is filled with anger and strength to defend his little brother and fight the witch head on. But he is not strong enough to defeat the witch on his own. It is not he who wins the battle. It is not his battle to win. 

Aslan is the one who comes and defeats the enemy—the White Witch. He is the one who saves and defends. He is the one to win this victory and defeats the evil the kids are unable to. This whole time, the story has been leading up to this great battle between good and evil, good prevails! 

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Contemporary 

All Together Now 

Out of all the kinds of stories, I think contemporary is the easiest (in principle) to accomplish the main tip I’m giving you which is focusing on the CHARACTERS first. I say it’s the easiest in principle because contemporary stories are usually character focused while other stories (high fantasy, action, adventure, etc) can be harder—though not impossible—in regards to keeping the characters the primary focus (alongside the plot because you do need both in a story but characters (in my opinion) come first). 

For this contemporary example I’m using the Netflix movie called All Together Now. It’s a movie I stumbled upon by accident and found I really loved it (it is based off of a book but since I have not read it I don’t know if it’s good or not). Also, if you have seen this movie, let me know in the comments because I feel like I’m the only person who has watched this (I know there are others, I just haven’t met them yet XD). 

…

Amber is fiercely independent. She works multiple jobs, is homeless with her mother, goes to school, helps everyone, self sacrifices all the time, and is working on getting into a music school. 

No matter what, she never asks for help. She doesn’t want to be a burden to others when she can take care of it herself but then will go out of her way for others. 

Her climax moment is when she accepts help from others. Her whole community comes together to hold a fundraiser to help her save her dog who has cancer. When she accepts help, she has battled and defeated her dragon that was not asking for help when she needed it. 

Her victory came here. She accepts help and in taking this help she is blessed with a huge amount of money—something that comes from her helping people so often and those people then wanting to help and bless her as she has blessed them. Now she can save her dog but also she is able to pursue her dream of going to music school, something she could not afford on her own but was now blessed with the opportunity to go. 

This is a really simple story that does deal with hard topics but is SO good and highly underrated (in my opinion). I highly recommend watching and then coming back and telling me your thoughts on it! 

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Bonus example(s)

I could go on with examples but I’m going to limit myself to only three examples (which are totally unbiased *wink* XD) 

Did I use the three kinds of stories I write (contemporary, fantasy (with battle), and fantasy (without battle))? Why, yes. Yes, I did! 

Here are four of the climax moments (showing the journey from the problem at the beginning to the proved change at the climax) I’ve personally done (without spoilers): 

• Changed perspective on self. Going from having body image issues to knowing who God made you to be and knowing you are wonderfully made by God with purpose and design. 

• Learning to go through trauma and loss. Pressing your feelings down and ignoring emotions and trauma to then be able to feel your feelings and work through and move past your past trauma and loss in a healthy way. 

• Defending the defenseless and fighting years of wrongs. Two nations have been battling each other for years to realize that the fighting is wrong and is destroying innocent lives. 

• Focusing on God. Having a dream and goal in your life only for it to be taken away and you realize that dream has become an idol in your life and has taken God’s place in your life. Knowing this you are able to focus on God and rebuild a relationship with Him. 

Each story is different and every climax will be unique to your characters. Many climaxes can look the same (lovers declaring their love for each other, big battle scenes, the dystopian government being overthrown, etc) but what makes them unique and different from each other? 

The characters! The characters and their personal journey and internal conflict is what makes the stories unique and different. The same things can be happening but it’s the characters that sets the story and climaxes apart from each other. 

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RECAP:

Bam! That’s the end of the story examples for CLIMAXES!!! 

To recap: 

• The MAIN THING TO REMEMBER and this goes for ALL stories is to keep your primary focus on the characters. 

• You still will focus on the plot (external things happening) but you must show how this MATTERS and IMPACTS your characters personally (not how it matters to every character but to your character specifically). 

• Show WHY this (the climax) MATTERS to your character and how it proves their growth from the start of the story to right now (for example: Edmund in the beginning of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was self setters but in the climax he is willing to stand in the face of evil and sacrifice himself for others. In All Together Now, Amber went from doing everything for everyone to taking others' help and doing things for herself). 

• How you have a unique climax (and story) is because of the characters. The characters and their personal journey and internal conflict is what makes the stories unique and different.

Just think, how many [INSERT BOOK TROPE OR GENRE YOU LOVE] stories have you read and still love seeing [ABOVE STORY TROPE OR GENRE]? 

For it to be in a “trope” or “genre” means there is a LOT of that story being written and told. Yet, you still love it and find unique stories within that trope or genre. What makes them different from each other? The characters and the characters’ story. That’s how you make a story matter, that’s how you make readers care. 

It’s the characters. 

If you can nail this, you will nail your story and capture your readers. 

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Masterclass Requests: 

If there are any other tropes or writing help you’d like me to help you with AND you like these “masterclass posts” then leave a comment down below with your request so I can write a post about it! 

It can be about any writing topic or trope (anything you’d like help with)! Is there another part of the story you need help with?  Is there a romance trope you’d like to know how to write (best friends to lovers, enemies/rivals to lovers, opposites attract, love triangles, etc)? A genre you’d like tips on (dystopian, fantasy (non magical or magical), contemporary, retelling, etc). Do you need help with characters (creating or a specific aspect)? Or something else like world building, pacing, description (setting and characters)? 

I really loved making this Masterclass and I know I’ll want to make more posts like these (especially while I’m writing a book now) and I’d love to get requests from YOU! 

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Discussion Time

Thank you so much for coming and reading this Masterclass! I hope you found some helpful tips on writing climaxes! 

I want to hear from you! Meet me in the comments and tell me what you thought of today’s post? What is one of your FAVORITE climaxes? If you are a writer, what climax is your favorite that you’ve written? What is one of your most HATED climaxes (one that just fell flat or you felt bored watching)? I would love to chat! 

If you have any questions or want to talk (or have a prayer request), make sure to comment down below! Be sure to subscribe to this blog to stay in the know because I post new content here every week. ALSO, If you want to hear more about my writing, make sure you are subscribed because I am doing special updates for BLOG SUBSCRIBERS ONLY! 

Love, Moriyah 💛