Step 6 The Climax The climax is the point at which your characters also confront their own weaknesses. If they are naturally timid, then they may become very courageous at the climax. If they tend to lie, then they will need to tell an important truth. The climax of the story is the proof that your character has really transformed.
The climax generally follows one of these patterns: Realization: Your character has put together the clues in the story and has figured out what happened. This type of climax works well for mysteries. Resolution: Your character is up against the very last obstacle and--through the confrontation--a transformation takes place. Choice: The character is faced with making a difficult decision. Should he capture the villain or escape with the gold? Should he tell the truth and face the consequences or lie and escape unharmed? If you want to test whether your climax is successful, read your story aloud to a friend, and then stop just before the resolution and put the story down. If they demand to hear the ending, you have a good story!