Hey 👋 - Dave here.

Happy Saturday morning and welcome to The Saturday Storyteller (TSS).

Read time: 5 minutes

✍️ Write on.

The climax of your novel or film should provide audiences with both emotional and intellectual satisfaction.

Get it right, and you'll inspire five-star reviews, positive buzz, and increased sales from readers and viewers.

But miss the mark, and you risk criticism—or, worse, indifference.

So this article will guide you in producing the climax your audience deserves.

Climax Clarity

The word climax originates from the Greek word klîmax, meaning "staircase" or "ladder."

So this key milestone must reward your audience in dramatic fashion for investing their time in your story.

It is also the moment they decide whether they will follow you into your next narrative.

Ever finish a story and immediately seek out everything else produced by its creator?

Perhaps it was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or The Dark Knight by the Nolan brothers?

Collins and the Nolans honored their audiences with turning points that fully resolved the drama and conflicts established earlier.

That’s your goal when crafting a climax.

Here’s how:

Climax Application

Let’s dissect a climax’s core elements and pinpoint its optimal placement in your narrative.

Aim for the 90% mark.

Here's some good news: you're already equipped to write an effective climax.

This isn't mere positive reinforcement—it is recognizing your experience with the three-act structure.

Think of your climax as the third and final plot milestone, or the ultimate pinch point.

Quick refresher:

Pinch points act as narrative mile markers, strategically placed to highlight your antagonist's true colors and the stakes at hand.

While not hard and fast rules, these typically occur around the 38% and 62% marks in your plot, serving as guideposts.

These pinch points do three things:

1. Showcase the force opposing your protagonist.

2. Challenge and fuel your protagonist's drive toward their goal.

3. Engage your audience through high-stakes conflict, be it emotional or physical.

Your climax, then, should aim for that 90% sweet spot in the plotline.

Use it as the final and brightest spark, rounding out the overarching tension established by the earlier pinch points.

This is where you stage the ultimate showdown between protagonist and antagonist—and yes, only one can emerge victorious.

The key is balance.

A climax delivered too early deflates the tension; too late, and you risk overwhelming your audience.

The 90% mark sets the stage for a satisfying resolution and leaves room for post-climax effects.

It is also where you address the aftermath, because your audience will want to know what comes next. Leave room for that, and you've got a climax that sticks.

Pinch Point & Climax Analysis

Let’s take a look at a bestselling novel and a blockbuster film to see how master storytellers executed their climaxes.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

• Protagonist: Katniss Everdeen

• Antagonist: The 74th Hunger Games run by The Capitol

1st Pinch (39%):

• Katniss enters the Cornucopia, faces the other 23 tributes, and finally meets the horror of the 74th Hunger Games.

• She witnesses the first deaths of the Games and experiences paralyzing fear despite watching no one die in whom she is personally invested.

2nd Pinch (62%):

• Katniss again faces the terror of the Games as she arrives just in time to watch a tribute kill Rue.

• Rue was a new ally to whom Katniss became attached, and an eerie reminder of her sister Primrose.

• Katniss shoots an arrow at the tribute who murdered Rue, marking her first official, intentional kill.

Climax (91%):

• Katniss and Peeta overcome and kill the deadliest tribute (Cato) and wolf-like mutants.

• However, The Capitol revokes its previous announcement of two winners, compelling Katniss to choose between killing the person she cares about most in the Games (Peeta) or dying herself.

• Katniss and Peeta decide they will both eat toxic berries, forcing The Capitol to end the Games with two winners.

Post-Climax (92–100%):

• Katniss learns her suicide-attempt rebellion upset The Capitol.

• She must continue to convince the world that she and Peeta are in love—even though Peeta is truly in love with her.

The Dark Knight by Christopher and Jonathan Nolan

• Protagonist: Batman

• Antagonist: The Joker

1st Pinch (36%):

• Batman fights The Joker at Harvey Dent’s fundraiser, where The Joker threatens Rachel Dawes.

• The Joker throws Rachel out of a window, endangering the life of Batman’s true love and desired future.

2nd Pinch (62%):

• Batman confronts The Joker in the police interrogation room, where The Joker reveals he has captured Batman’s only two hopes in the world (Rachel Dawes and Harvey Dent).

• The Joker forces Batman to choose one to save, jeopardizing the life of his personal love (Rachel Dawes, his desired future) and his professional hope (Harvey Dent, Gotham’s White Knight).

Climax (92% of the story):

• Batman defeats The Joker in hand-to-hand combat after subduing a building full of both allies and adversaries.

• However, The Joker reveals that despite his capture, he will still be victorious because he pushed Harvey Dent over the edge, threatening the hope, life, and soul of Gotham itself.

Post-Climax (93–100%):

• Batman grapples with The Joker’s revelation as Harvey Dent attempts to kill him and Lieutenant Gordon (Dent had already killed five people).

• Batman stops Dent and decides to accept responsibility for everything Dent did, all to prevent Gotham from imploding—thus earning the title of “The Dark Knight.”

Climax Lucidity

Recognize that your climax is the turning point where your audience becomes either a one-night stand fan or a lifelong supporter.

Next, craft a climactic battle between your protagonist and antagonist, resolving the tension built during the earlier pinch points.

Finally, position your climax near the 90% mark, leaving room for an aftermath resolution.

Using AI to Craft Your Climax

Now that we've explored the nuances of an epic finale, let’s play AI to improve your climax.

Below is an AI chatbot prompt to guide you. Simply copy and paste it into your favorite chatbot (e.g. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, etc).

• Note: Don’t forget to edit the bold text in [brackets] to receive customized responses.

AI Chatbot Prompt - edit the bold text in [brackets]

That’s it for this Saturday.

See ya next week!

— Dave

Hey 👋 - Dave here.

Happy Saturday morning and welcome to The Saturday Storyteller (TSS).

Read time: 5 minutes

✍️ Write on.

Your villain plays the most important role in your story.

Yes, even more important than your hero.

That means you must go beyond the clichés when developing your villain—because platitudes like maniacal laughter, minions, and monologues are standard issue.

Alas don’t panic if your villain possesses any of these stock traits.

Even the most celebrated villains are littered with clichés. Look no further than Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter series and the Joker from The Dark Knight.

So how did J.K. Rowling and the Nolan brothers propel their villains past the stereotypes? Better yet, how do you craft your villain to become exceptional? 

Here are 3 keys to developing an incredible villain:

1. The villain functions as a reflection of the hero.

Picture your hero looking into a mirror. The image reflected is that of your villain. 

At first you only see their obvious differences. But upon closer inspection, you see how the two characters contrast each other in all their disturbing glory. These dark reflections equip your villain with layers of character that match your hero’s depth.

Examples:

Lord Voldemort is a reflection of Harry Potter.

• Both are orphans:

  • Voldemort became an orphan due to misery and lack of love when his mother died from heartbreak.

  • Harry became an orphan founded in love when his parents sacrifice their lives to save him.

• Both view Hogwarts as their first home:

  • Voldemort (Tom Riddle) allowed Hogwarts to become another broken home as he emerged into the Dark Lord.

  • Harry made Hogwarts a happy home where he found his best friends and true family.

• Both open the Chamber of Secrets:

  • Voldemort embraced the power of the Baselisk to wreak havoc on Hogwarts.

  • Harry destroyed the Serpent of Slytherin.

• Both lead crews toward their story goals:

  • Voldemort rules the Death Eaters with self-serving fear to vanquish half-bloods.

  • Harry inspires good-hearted friends and wizards while doing almost everything for others to protect the world.

• Both are half-blood wizards whose emotions fuel their great strength:

  • Voldemort uses hate to dominate without regard for anyone’s safety.

  • Harry is driven by love and despises putting anyone else in danger.

The Joker is a reflection of Batman.

• Both wear costumes:

  • The Joker dresses like a carnival freak show to confuse and disturb.

  • Batman shields his identity and body to protect and safeguard.

• Both instill fear in Gotham:

  • The Joker coerces criminals to join his insane mission.

  • Batman drives criminals to look over their shoulders.

• Both inspire Gotham:

  • The Joker breeds chaos which motivates lunatics to help topple the city.

  • Batman serves justice which compels citizens to help protect the city.

• Both subscribe to ideological views:

  • The Joker believes the world offers no redeemable value and mayhem should govern.

  • Batman aspires to support the world long enough to fix itself so it can flourish.

2. The villain exposes truths the hero does not want to admit.

Your hero has fears they don’t want to believe or admit. These fears are dark truths. 

Your villain must preach these dark truths like gospel to the hero. These revelations will cast your villain as a memorable conductor of conflict.

Examples:

Voldemort vows to Harry Potter that he’s destined to die by the Dark Lord’s hand.

• Voldemort tried to kill Harry Potter as a baby but failed.

  • The Dark Lord reminds Harry of his murderous intentions throughout the series. And Harry can only escape Voldemort’s proclamation for so long.

• Because in the final novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, it’s revealed to Harry that Voldemort’s repeated death sentence was actually a dark truth.

  • Harry learns the only way to defeat the Dark Lord is if he, himself, dies by Voldemort’s hand.

The Joker pledges Gotham will turn on itself.

• The Joker tells Batman in the Police interrogation room that Gotham’s morals and code are a farce.

  • The Joker declares the citizens will eat each other alive and cross Batman when faced with real trouble.

• The Joker’s words are fulfilled after his plan transforms Harvey Dent (a secondary hero) into Two-Face (a secondary villain).

  • Dent was supposed to be Gotham’s White Knight, the best of them. But the Joker turns him, so in turn, Two-Face seeks revenge against the corrupt cops and citizens that failed him (killing five people).

3. The villain forces the hero to evolve into a savior.

Your villain must push your hero to confront the exposed truth. This confrontation permits your hero to emerge as the savior they’re intended to be.

Examples:

Harry Potter faces Voldemort’s death sentence.

• After Harry learns he must die by Voldemort’s hand to destroy a protective link they share, Harry decides to surrender in the Forbidden Forest.

  • Harry allows Voldemort to cast the Killing Curse but finds himself go to a place between life and death. In this strange place, Harry learns that by facing death and not running from it, he’s become the true master of the Deathly Hallows (a trio of powerful, magical objects).

  • Harry is then reborn and conquers Voldemort, an impossibility had Harry refused to brave the uninviting truth that Voldemort forced him to reconcile.

Batman faces the Joker’s self-destruction prophecy.

• After Two-Face dies trying to kill Batman and Lieutenant Gordon’s family, Batman recognizes that Gotham will implode if it discovers the Joker’s revelation that he, himself, did not want to believe.

  • Batman decides to make Gotham think he killed the five people, not Dent (Gotham’s White Knight).

  • The Joker’s “chess game” forces Batman to accept all the blame and sacrifice his reputation, an act that propels him to become The Dark Knight which Gotham needs to survive.

Why it Works

It’s no secret that villains generate the primary conflict in stories. They produce major obstacles that heroes must overcome. It’s this cause and effect process that empowers heroes to save the day and shine at the climax.

But we want our villains to shine, too! 

As storytellers, we dream of creating unforgettable monsters that compel audiences secretly root for them. Or openly rave about them.

 Thankfully, every storyteller can prepare a villain that leaves a remarkable impression.

But it can’t start until you permit your villain to be more than the “Lord of Cliches” by:

1. Positioning the villain as a dark reflection of the hero.

2. Making the villain expose the hero’s dark truths. 

3. Forcing the hero to overcome what they do not want to face.

Orchestrating this conflict should make readers gush about your villain, maybe even more than your hero.

Develop Your Remarkable Villain with AI:

Now that we've explored the keys to craft an unforgettable villain, it's time to apply these insights to your own story.

Below is an AI chatbot prompt to guide you. Simply copy and paste it into your favorite chatbot (e.g. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, etc).

But don’t forget to edit the bold text in [brackets] to receive customized responses.

AI Chatbot Prompt - edit the bold text in [brackets]

That’s it for this Saturday.

See ya next week!

— Dave