Building To A Peak

TECHNIQUES FOR ENHANCING CLIMAX

conflict
External Conflict
Increasing external conflict is an obvious way to build to a climax. Conflict brings urgency,
propelling the story to a necessary resolution or meltdown.

External conflict includes scenarios such as:

1. Conflict between characters (competition for power, competing wants or needs, ideological
differences in beliefs)
2. Conflict between characters and their environment (for example, a survivor trying to make it
safely off the sinking Titanic)
External Conflicts
In a strong climax, external conflicts lead to additional complications:

1. Time-dependent developments: Resolution becomes urgent (e.g. The villain will execute a
terrifying plan in three days, or the ship will sink completely within one hour)

2. Increased obstacles: Challenges characters must overcome to reach their goals (e.g. Two
friends separated by different school postings)
Internal Conflicts
Internal conflicts – the wars that rage within your characters – are also useful for building to a
high point of tension and uncertainty.

1. A morally ambiguous situation that requires your character to make a decision that calls for
judgement and discernment against overwhelming temptation/in the face of personal loss
and danger.
2. An emotional state of struggle brought about by an external situation (like jealousy or envy)
between your baser instincts and your noble character.
Internal Conflicts
In a strong climax, internal conflicts lead to additional complications:

1. Time-dependent developments: Resolution becomes urgent (e.g. the opportunity to steal or

shoplift within a narrow window of inattention by the shop assistant)

2. Increased obstacles: Challenges characters must overcome to reach their goals (other
characters who strive to exert their influence – temptation/provocation/persuasion)
setting
Setting The Scene
Use the setting of the story to mirror the emotional state of your character or the arc of the
story. Eg. A gloomy weather pattern might reflect the depressive state of your character.

1. Foreboding/foreshadowing – using the technique of painting the weather or the scene to

reflect the impending events. Light, location, space, temperature etc.
2. Timing – using length of sentence to affect the reader’s perception of time – shorter
sentences lend immediacy and ramp up pace and momentum. Longer, complex sentences
slow down the pace and foster reflection and appreciation.
Setting The Scene
Not all story climax examples feature showstopping gun fights or chases, because conflict isn’t
the only source of momentum.
Increase your reader’s suspense by adding mystery to your story arc. This doesn’t necessarily
require explicit conflict.
Show but never tell what actually happens to create an air of mystery.
As the week wore on, Penelope’s stubborn absence, coupled with the foul odour coming from the
basement, drove us to distraction. We feared the worst. The unthinkable.
Craft a climax using the techniques shared