Ann Otto asked M.K. Tod:

I'm starting my second novel and am using your excellent post from last February on '8 steps for outlining a novel'. Under the plotting concepts, you mention that the book should have a climax and a climax within the climax. I'm having problems with the concept. Can you give an example? Thanks!

M.K. Tod Hello Ann ... and many thanks for your question. My take on this is that the climax within the climax are the smaller peaks in the story, the resolutions of ancillary stories and ancillary character arcs that a story contains. In my latest novel, Time and Regret, there's a climax for the main story of Grace and her life as well as a mini-climax to her grandfather's story and to her grandmother's story. I hope that helps!

flag