Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Building the Climax plus free books

A Double Opposition is free from October 1 to October 5 A Double Opposition

Havens, Affinities Book 2 is free from October 1 to October 4  http://amzn.com/B00BEZKO38

The climax of a story equals decision time for one or more characters in the story. Can they reach their goal or goals? Do they take the easy way or go the longer and harder route to reach what they desire? Much depends on how the character or characters have been developed and exactly what the goal is. Goals can change as characters develop and the climax may not be what you envisioned when the story began. Levels may have developed. So how do climaxes fail?

The focal character doesn't have his back against the wall.  There is a decision he or she must make that is ignored. This will leave the reader scratching his or her head and asking Why.

The focal character doesn't face a decision that will test his or her principles. If they have hated something during the entire story and yet as the climax develops they refuse to make that moral choice, the climax will fall short. I'm struggling with this at the present moment with a story and I know I must have the hero do the final betrayal of the family who has rejected him. Not easy but it will happen.

There are two ways the character can choose to take. At this split in the road means the alternate to the easy way isn't appealing, how can the character choose to take that route? So make the hard path obtainable with a bit of struggle for the character.

The goal is too trivial. Make the goal essential to the character's happiness and well-being.

So when reaching and building the climax, question what the character or characters really want and how hard they will work to gain what they desire.