I'm currently struggling with the climax scene of my Q2 and am wondering if any of you have any tricks of the trade to share. Specific questions below:
what percentage of the story should a good climax scene be?
how can I make sure my main character is being proactive, is the change agent?
how can I make sure my mc has feelings of doubt, staring into the abyss, without disrupting the action?
how can I use the climax scene to help mc overcome emotional wound/ major weakness?
how can I show what the mc is willing to sacrifice in writing a climax scene?
what other questions should I be answering in a satisfying climax scene?
WOTF results:
Vol 42: Q1 SHM, Q2 pending, Q3 ?
running totals to date:
WOTF: 6 Rs, 3 RWCs, 8 HMs, 1 SHM
IOTF: 4 Rs, 3 HMs
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what percentage of the story should a good climax scene be?
Samples from an unknown (i.e., me): 1175/15350 words = 7.5% (emotional climax scene). 550/4950 words = 11% (includes the denouement, which is difficult to separate, but if you made me, climax drops to 335 words = 6.7%). 3050/9300 words = 33%
(action climax scene). 1450/6800 words = 21% (action)
how can I make sure my mc has feelings of doubt, staring into the abyss, without disrupting the action?
Most of that is done earlier, eh? Some ideas for during the climax though: internal thoughts like "let's see if this works", "I can't believe that worked", "time to make my last act on earth memorable". Narration like "Phase one of climatic plan started as planned. MC rode the tour bus like a spectator waiting for the first surprise to jump into the middle of the road."
what other questions should I be answering in a satisfying climax scene?
Does this awesome scene matter if my first 450 words shift my piece to the reject pile?
Is there a clear victor, or is a draw with losses on all sides the only achievement?
Did MC overcome a character flaw?
HMx9
SHMx1 (Q2'22)
2xCritiquer for Published Winners (Oh yeah, it's now a thing)
For an effective climax I would take a look at payoff. Don’t worry about word count on the first draft - worry about a complete story. The climax should be the highest stakes moment of the story. I’ve often found in my own writing that when I am struggling with the climax, it’s because I haven’t laid a strong enough foundation in the try-fail cycles/escalating stakes and conflict. If you know what the climax should be and it isn’t paying out, consider looking at the previous scenes for escalation and emotional investment.
V34: R,HM,R
V35: HM,R,R,HM
V36: R,HM,HM,SHM
V37: HM,SF,SHM,SHM
V38: (P)F, SHM, F, F
V39: SHM, SHM, HM, SHM
Published Finalist Volume 38
Pro’d out Q4V39
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