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SUNDA Y , 3 0 S E PT EMBE R 2 0 1 2

Howtowritetheclimaxtoanovel

Twoofthemostdifficultthingstogetrightforanovelarethebeginningandtheending.

Therightbeginningisimportant,whichshouldjumpinatasignificantmomentorstartwithaction,buttheendingsomethingthatseemsfaroffwhenwerewritingthestoryisjustasimportant.

Anendinghastoaccomplishseveralthings:ithastocompletethestory,itmustofferresolution,itshouldtieupalllooseendsand,finally,itshouldprovideanendingthatislogicalandsatisfactory.

Itsworthnotingthatnotallstoriesneedtoendinoneexplosive,violenteventandthereisnothingwrongwiththatbecausemanynovelsdont.Somenovelsliteraryonesinparticularhavemoreofagentleunveilingattheend,whetherthatstheunravellinglifejourneyofacharacter,ortheanswertoaparticularplottwistorasimplerevelationetcaslongasthestoryisresolved.

And,ofcourse,notallstorieshavehappyendings.Buthowdoyougoaboutformulatingtheclimaxofanovel?

Firstly,thinkofthestoryashavingthreesectionsthebeginning,themiddleandtheend.Secondly,knowwhereyourstoryisheadingbecausewritersoftenapproachtheendofthestorywithnoclearthoughtstohowitmightend.Writersmightcomeunstuckbyusing

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WE LCOME T O A L L WR IT E

Soyou'veembarkedonyourfictionwritingjourney.

It'soneofthehardestthingstodocreateawhole,believableworldforotherpeopletoenjoy,especiallyifyou'renewtowriting.It'salsooneoftheloneliestjobs,especiallywhenthereisnohelporadviceorsupport...sorightheretherewillbehandyarticles,examplesandsimplestepbystepguidestohelpmakethecreativeprocessthatmucheasier.

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contrivedorforcedendings(becausethewriterhasnttakenthetimetoplan),whichtendtoweakenthestoryconsiderably.Thebeginningandthemiddlemightbeexcitingandfastpaced,buttheendingmightturnintoabitofawhimper.

Ifyoudontknowwhereyouareheading,howcanyoufindyourway?Alittleplanninggoesalongway.Knowroughlywhereyourstoryisheadingandhowitshouldend.Itdoesnthavetobeprecise,itmightonlybeanidea,butitswisetohavesomethingtoworktobecauseyouhaveabetterchanceoffindingtherightending,ratherthancreatingthewrongone.

Yourendingsectionshouldhavefourmaincomponents:ThebuildupThesetupTheEndgameTheResolution

TheBuildUp

Thisiswherethepaceofthestorychangesittendstomovefaster,thetensionbuildsandtheactionincreases,anditusuallydoessoafterasignificanteventorwhenthemaincharacterhasdiscoveredsomesortofinformationortruththatwillputthemonthepathtowardsashowdownwiththeantagonist.

Thinkofapressurecookerslowlybuildingupthepressurethatshowyourstoryshouldunfold.Pressure,pace,excitementandtensionshouldtakeafrontseatasyouracetowardstheclimax.

Theideaofthebuildupistocreatemomentumandanticipationforthereader.

TheSetUp

Thismeansyourcharactertakesmeasuredactionpriortotheendgameandthefinalmomentofthestory.Forinstance,yourheromightgethishandsonagun,readytoconfrontthevillain.Ormaybeheorshegetsintothecarandracestowardsthefinalconfrontationperhapsthecarispartoftheconflict,partofachasescene.Themaincharactermightboardatrain,oraplane,headingdirectlyintotrouble.Oritmightsimplybeacharacter

measure.Iamprivilegedtohaveeightshortstories/poemspublishedinthisbook,soifyoulikeyourdamesalittledarkanddangerous,thisisthebookforyou.

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WISE WORDS . . .

Writingislikebeingmarriedyouhavetoworkhardatmaintaininghappinessandequilibrium,butinvariablyonealwaysendsupinthedoghouse.

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AJHUMPAGE

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I'vebeenwritingforover25yearsandstartedoutinthe

publishingindustry.I'vepublishedarticles,studyguides,poems,flashfiction,shortstoriesandanovel.IalsoworkfulltimesoI'mALWAYSworking.

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appearsataparticular,significantlocation.

Thesetupplacesyourcharacterinafinalsituationandpullstogetherallthestrandsofthestory,soallthetwistsandturnsyouvecreatedsincethestartofthestoryleaduptothatmomentwhenyourprotagonistfinallyconfrontstheantagonistwhatheorshedecidestodonextaffectshowtheywillbehaveintheendgame.

TheEndgame

Themomentyourcharacterfacestheantagonist,theculminationofthestoryanditis,ineffect,thatfinalconfrontationthatformsthedenouement.

Howyourcharacterdealswiththismomentwilldirectlyimpactontheending,andthestoryitself.Atthismoment,theinnerjourneyofyourcharacterandthejourneytheyhaveundertakentogettothatmomentareunified.

Ifitsathriller,willyourcharacterwinthedayanddefeatthevillain?Ifyourewritingacrimenovel,willthetruthcomeout,willthekillerbefound?Ifitsromance,willtheherofinallygethisgirl(orviceversa)?Yougettheidea.

Theendingshouldalwaysbeappropriateforthestory,tootrynottofallintothemovietrap,i.e.theclimacticendingalwaystakesplaceinalargefactoryorwarehousewhich,forsomestrangereasonlacksanyotherpeopleworkingthere.Ortheactiontakesplaceinaquarry.Oraconstructionsiteagainwithnopeople.Moviesdothisallthetime.Itsboring,predictableandcontrived,soavoidclichdlocationswhereverpossible.

Theendgameallowsthewritertorampuptheexcitement,tensionandaction.Thatmightmeanexplosionsandfights,gunfireorchases,oritmightnot.Whateverthecharacterdoes,heorshewillbeinastateofheighteneddesperation,anxietyorfearperhaps,ormaybefacingtheodds,andwhateverobstaclesthecharacterhasovercomethroughoutthestory,thismomentmightbetheworstmomentofthestoryaculminationofthepressureandexcitementandpaceintoonedefiningmoment.

TheResolution

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Theideaoftheresolutionistogivethereaderclosure.Itsoptionalsomenovelsdonthaveoneandsimplyendwithabang,butthefirstmomentsafterthefinalconflictiswhenwriterstieupthosesubplotsandlooseendswithabriefsceneorchapterjusttoexplainthings.

Thethingtorememberwiththeresolution,however,isnottoletitdragon.Keepitbriefandtothepoint.Ifawriterspendsanothersevenpagesexplainingthingstothereader,theimpactandexcitementoftheendgamewillbelost.

Makeyourendingcount,makethewordseffectiveanddontmakethereaderfeelcheatedoutofagoodending.Theyrenoteasy,butthemoreyouwrite,theeasieritbecomes.

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SUNDA Y , 1 6 S E PT EMBE R 2 0 1 2

BasicNarrativeStructureFictionalwritingdoesnthavehardandfastrules,otherthantheuseofgrammar,butitdoesrequireanunderstandingofthefundamentalprinciplesoffictionwriting.Writerscanchoosetofollowthoseprinciplesandbecomebetterwriters,ortheycanignorethemattheirownperilandlanguishontheslushpile.

Basicnarrativestructureisoneofthoseprinciplesthatwritersshouldfollowandittakespartinthreedefinedsectionsbeginning,middleandtheend(resolution).Itshowthesearestitchedtogethertomakeastory,andtheorderoftheeventsthathappeninthestory.

Thebeginningofanovelisthesetup,wheremaincharactersareintroducedandthebasicpremiseoftheplotandthemeisrevealedthemainproblemorobstacle(s)thatthemaincharacterhastoovercome.Thiswherethewritersetsthesceneandhintsatwhatmightcome.

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Themiddlecontainsthesubstanceofthestorycharacterscomeintoconflict,themaincharacterovercomeshisorherproblemsandundergoesmajorlifechangesasitbuildsuptotheresolution.

Theendingisthedenouementwherethenarrativegrowstoanexcitingclimaxandallowsthecharacterstoconfrontandovercometheultimateobstaclethroughseveralturningpointsi.e.definingmomentsinthestoryoryourcharacters.Thestoryshouldreachasatisfactoryconclusionandworldordershouldberestored.Italsoallowsthewritertopulltogetheralltheloosetiesfromsubplotsetc.

Readanymainstreamnovelandtheyallfollowthesamestructuretheresabalanceofnarrative,dialogueanddescription.Wecanfurtherbreakthemdownintotheirworkingparts:

Narrativethestorylinearc.

Dialoguecharactersconversationsthatkeepthestorymoving.

DescriptionThedepictionofkeyscenes.

Narrativeworksonmanydifferentlevels.Thejobofthenarratoristomakethereaderrespondtothestoryinaparticularway.Clevernarrativeevokestherightemotionssad,funny,scaryorexcitingetc.Storiesarewrittentoentertainandinformus,butonadeeperleveltheyalsohelpusunderstandaspectsofhumannatureandtheworldaroundus.

Narrativeshouldhavethefollowingbasicorder:

TheOpeningSetthesceneIntroductionofcharacterAseriesofeventsConflictsandobstaclesTurningPointsCharacterschangeClimaxResolutionNarrativeshouldalsocontainotherbasictoolsPOV,flashback,indirectexposition,Charactermotivation,tensionandatmospherecreatedthroughconflict.

10Thingsyoushouldincludeinnarrativestructure

CreatingCharacterGoals

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1. Plotandtheme2. Characterisationrevealedthroughdialogue.3. Description,includingtherangeofsenses.4. Flashbacksummaryandemphasis.5. ClearPOV.6. Obstaclesandconflicts.7. IndirectExposition(Show,DontTell)8. Motivation,atmosphere,tensionandemotion.9. Turningpointskeymomentsthatdefinethestory

oryourcharacters.10. Satisfactoryconclusionandresolution.

Dialogueifoftenoverlookedbywritersbecausetheythinkitdoesntmattersomuch,butwhatyourcharacterssayisjustasimportantaswhattheydo.Basicnarrativestructureneedsdialoguebecauseithelpswithcharacterisation,itmovesthestoryforwardandithelpsthereadermakesenseofwhatisgoingoninthestory.Allthisisdonethroughyourcharacters.

Descriptionselfexplanatory.Nostoryisworthreadingifitdoesntcontaindescriptionofsomesort.Descriptionisbestforkeyscenesbecauseitcanthenaddtotheoverallatmosphereratherthandetractfromit.

Evocativedescriptionbridgesthegapbetweentherealworldandthefictionalone.Wellwrittendescriptionaddstotherichnessofyourreaderslandscape,itaddsatmosphereortensionandotheremotionsitgivesadeeperinsightintothefictionalworldandmakesthemfeelasthoughtheyarethere.

Basicstorystructureshouldcontainallthesebasicelementsadefinedbeginning,apackedmiddleandanexcitingend,andallthreewillcontainnarrative,dialogueanddescription.

Followthisstructureanditwillhelpyouconstructbetterstories.

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Justhowlongshouldachapterbe?Whatsthebestlength?Anddoesanovelhavetofitintoasetamountofwords?Thesearejusttwoo...

FlashbacksWhatisaflashback?Flashbackis

oneofthoseusefultoolsthatawritercanusetoenhanceastory.Itenrichesand,inasense,nourish...

SubplotsImoftenaskedbynewwriters

howsubplotsshouldevolve.Somewritersfindsubplotsdifficulttogettogripswhileothersareputofftry...

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SA T URDA Y , 1 S E PT EMBE R 2 0 1 2

CreatingCharacterGoalsEverycharacterneedsagoal.

Inreallife,wespendourlivesstrivingtowardsgoalssomeachievable,somenotso,butmostofthegoalswesetourselvesareattainable,whetherthatssavingtobuyanewcar,planningadreamhouse,gettingmarried,savingforthefuture,planningadreamholidayorafamily...orperhapslearninganewlanguage,orgainingadegree.Theyareallgoals.

Justasinreallife,yourcharactersalsoneedaffirminggoals.Andoncetheyhavethosegoals,itsthendowntohowyougetyourcharactertoreachthemthatactuallymakesthenarrativecaptivating.

Butwhatexactlyaregoals?

Yourcharacterneedsobjectivesinordertoproceedtothestorysdenouement,theclimax,becausewithouttheseobjectivestherewillbenoobstacles,andwithoutobstaclestherewillbenoconflictortension,andwithoutconflictortensionyoudontreallyhaveastory.

Thisisshowninthefollowingsimplemethod:

CharacterGoal/objectiveapurposetheobstacleovercomingobstacle=fulfilmentofgoal

Trytosetyourcharactersgoalsearlyontheymaychangeduringstorywriting,soyouneedtoallowforthosechanges,becauseifacharactersgoaldoeschangethensowilltheoutcome.

Goalsdonthavetobeovercomplicatedeither.Theycanbesmallortheycanbeonagrandscale,aslongasthereareenoughofthemtocreateenoughtensionandatmosphere.Theycanbenailbiting,terrifying,sad,orevenhappy.Butitshowthecharacterfulfilsthegoalthatsimportant.

Bygivingyourcharacteragoalortwotoreach,youaregivingthemapurpose.Itstheirwholeraisondtre.Itsthereasonwhyyourcharactersputthemselvesthroughthestoryinthefirstplace.

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Everygoalneedsobstacles.Theremustbeabarrierforyourcharactertoovercome,andagainthisformsthetensethreadthatyouweavethroughyourstory.Let'stakeasimpleexample.Oneofyourcharacters(characterB)fallsoverboardfromayachtandneedsrescuing,butyourprotagonist(characterA)isterrifiedofthewaterandisfrozenwithfearatthethoughtofdivingintothedeep.Thequestionis,canheorsheovercomethefeartorescuetheirlovedone?OrwillcharacterBdrownneedlessly?

Here,thegoalofcharacterAistorescuecharacterB,thepurposeistosavethecharacterandsailoffintothesunsettogether,buttheobstacleischaracterAsdeepsetfearofwater.Thiscreatestensionandatmosphereforthereader.Italsocreatesconflictinnerconflict.

CharacterAmustovercomethatirrationalfearanddiveintosavecharacterBaheroicandselflessfeatandthusfulfilhisorhergoal.

Perhapsthegoalofacharacteristofindamissingperson,butthereareseveralobstaclesinthewaylackofevidence,uncooperativewitnesses,abothersome,noseyjournalist...allthesecanformbarriersforyourprotagonisttoovercome,onewayoranother.

Charactermotivationwilldeterminewhattheydototrytosolvetheparticularproblemsyousetthem.Theywillhaveagoal,apurpose,andtheywillneedtoreachthatgoal,whateverhappens.Howtheyreachtheirgoalsisentirelydowntothewriter,andhowwelltheywritetheirtwistsandturns.

Therearenosetrules,soawritercanbeasgentleorascallousastheylikewiththeircharacters.Dontbeafraidtogiveyourcharactersahardtimethismakestheconflictandtensionallthemoreenjoyableforthereader.

Oneimportantnoteyourcharactersshouldnotsailthroughyourstorywithoutacareoraproblemintheworld.Reallifeistough.Thesameistrueforyourcharacters.Theymustfaceproblemsduringtheirjourneyandtheymustalwaysreachtheirgoal.

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