Novel Kicks Writing Room: Climax

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room and the Plot Challenge.

Over the next few weeks, we will be focusing on plotting a piece of fiction, one task at a time.

These will potentially help you master plot structure by writing all major plot points, then analysing how each element builds toward a cohesive story.

Task 5: Climax –

This task is all about bringing the central conflict to its peak. You ideally want to force your protagonist to face what they’ve been avoiding.

When you’re doing this task, answer these questions – 

• What is the final internal and external confrontation?
• What does your protagonist have to sacrifice or risk?
• What are they fighting for now?
• How do their earlier choices affect this moment?

Once you’ve answered these questions, write the scene where everything comes to a head. This doesn’t have to be action-packed—it could be an emotional confrontation, a realization, a choice. But it should be the story’s most intense moment.

Consider – 

• Is this the only place the story could resolve?
• Does your protagonist make an active choice (not passive luck)?
• Are consequences real?
• Have earlier plot threads converged here?

As with other exercises, take your time with this. Above all, have fun.

Click to view the story conception task from week 1. 

Click to view the inciting incident task from week 2. 

Click to view the rising action task from week 3.

Click to view the midpoint task from week 4. 

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.