How to Write an Epic Climax

[@getawaytiger]

Lol. "I don't know, figure it out! That's your job as a writer." This is the best advise ever. Love you Jenna!

[@getawaytiger]

+Author Cat Studios / toogletoggleOfTheCats Whoops. My bad. Thanks xD

[@robertblanchard5680]

"There is nothing more disappointing than an anti-climatic climax" *Ahem Twilight ahem*

[@jasonfenton8250]

IT WAS ALL A DREAM WHAT A TWIST

[@deffdefying4803]

Robert Blanchard More like an anti-climax hehehehe i'm not funny

[@guicaldo7164]

deffdefying That's actually an existing term, that describes just that. Look it up on TV tropes.

[@tiffanypersaud3518]

That was in my mind from the beginning.

[@Salamaleikum80]

depends. But there are only few exceptions. Like One Punch man, but then again its the theme of the anime.

[@fawkes9718]

"BUT JENNA!?" and "I don't know! Figure it out! You're the author!" are some of my favorite of her catchphrases.

[@strawberry4829]

1. I like your shirt 2. I liked the video 3. I heard a writer describe the climax as "the point of no return" and I think that's a good way to put it

[@totallyanonymousbish9599]

Straw Berry Wow that little sentence helped me so much! :o Thank you!♡

[@t.k.abrams4720]

"The point of no return" is what people usually call the first and second plot points. Idk why you'd wait until the climax to include a point of no return...

[@fijigoya1236]

C. E. Abrams I think they meant it in a more “now there’s no way in hell it’s ever going to be like it was before” (especially if ppl die)

[@aturninthegameof...4584]

As a writer, I know I am writing a good climax, if I am crying while writing it. Then I will know that my readers will feel that pain too!

[@devynt7702]

the truth

[@aliciarichardson7342]

Honestly accurate and true. You know when the stories good when you get emotional (lol) and I once cried writing something for fun.

[@serenity2010sh]

@@aliciarichardson7342 lol ;)

[@LuddyFish_]

If you're going to get emotional about something, then your readers will most likely too. I remembered this one time when I murdered a favourite character of mine and I was like, "No! Why am I so cruel? Why did I have to bring this sweet cinnamon roll to his demise? I'm a monster!" I wanted to let him live on but I told myself that his death in any situation was too heart breaking so after finishing I edited and gave him the most well deserved death possible. I still mourn for him because he was too pure to die.

[@garfieldmethodactor8614]

can i just say that i owe you 94% of my english grade to you

[@thatguywith1millionsubscri31]

Lol ikr

[@tiffanypersaud3518]

Aww!

[@Opalescent]

"Let's talk about the climax...of a book." That pause though

[@tiffanypersaud3518]

Haha!!

[@Nickilob2006]

Like she knew we would have dirty minds ;)

[@nicoleg843]

I learn so much more from jenna than from my english teacher. i wish creative writing was emphasized more in english classes!

[@lustel2135]

I've learned more from Jenna than from my actual creative writing class.

[@moonlitskylight5740]

Most of what she says is just common sense in the writing world. A book on the topic will likely tell you the same things. However, she's free.

[@candid0111]

Hailey Hawes a lot of writers in the writing world have no common sense. Then again a lot of writers who claim to be writers aren't writers. and a lot of people need to learn how to write. I personally think writing is a natural thing you can't really learn.

[@moonlitskylight5740]

All I'm saying is you can learn the same thing from a book or two on writing. I'm not saying she's wrong at all. All I mean is that you can learn this stuff from a book on writing too. Writing is something you have to learn. Sure, some people have a gift for it, some have a gift for storytelling and great plots. But, you have to learn some parts of it.

[@candid0111]

Yes you're right as well. Was not saying you thought she was wrong though :)

[@taranova222]

I died at, "That shady bitch." and then died more at, "That shady bitch again." and then I exploded at, "WHAT THE FU--"

[@africanblacksoap9896]

right!

[@caitlin7311]

Me too! lol

[@jadewaterworth1405]

OMG, same here😂😂😂lol

[@DavidRycan]

*reads comment* *scolls back up* Jenna: WHAT THE FU- *implodes*

[@ultimatefangirl5718]

Brendan Reymann SAME

And avoid Deus Ex Machina pleeeeaaase

[@sumikatti]

+Ficçomos Exactly! Your surprise should not be something that you just come up with to wrap things up in a very surprising way. It needs to make sense.

[@wyrmoffastring]

Thing is, I know stories where the plot twist is not a deus ex machina, but set up for chapters and chapters, and people still call it a Deus Ex Machina...

[@shunyaku7759]

I kinda like that game series... but yeah It had a shit story.

[@wyrmoffastring]

The story I'm talking about has a very clear explanation for it though, as in why they didn't use it before. 1) There was no need for it and 2) The process to do it was not complete until near the finale.

[@actionauthorjessehenson2616]

Hold my cell phone.Stop the presses. Deus Ex was a great ps3 video game sir

[@pm0913]

Best Climax I've Ever Read: Sharon Draper- Copper Sun A book about a slave taken from Africa and her life and journey to America (where she meets her new master, they give her a new name, she learns English, she meets new people, yadda yadda yadda) Her super sweet and innocent pregnant Mistress has her child prematurely and everybody's afraid something's gonna be wrong with it and everybody's holding their breathe about it. The next thing you know the baby's fine but the babies also half-black. They find out she's been knocking boots with her chauffeur when they leave town. They end up killing the baby and the man, they make her suffer (Its been awhile since I read it, I think that's right) and it fucks everything on the plantation up, the protagonist finally musters up the courage to run away a midst all the chaos But that baby made my brain go BOOOMMMM

[@pm0913]

I've been waiting a while to talk about that twist though ( Like years) so excuse me if I'm excited and if I spoiled it for you lol too bad

[@sarcasticdemon7669]

That actually sounds like a interesting story, I wanna read it now.

[@caitlinpalmer9383]

One does not simply climax without it being climactic.

[@RawanMFathy]

I love you XD

[@Grace-td5dd]

I understood that reference

[@ace-nd1fi]

How to be an awful writer: Be R.L. Stine. Have a beginning, middle with a climax, then end with a resolution and then a twist cliff hanger with no actual ending. Make your reader scream at you for that cliffhanger without a ending. Its mean and its awsome

[@BenSandersSaysHello]

"Figure it out!" By far the best writing advice anyone could ask for. (Seriously. It's like a kick in the pants asking "Whose the author? Me or You? That's right, You!) lol Glad to hear you're feeling better Jenna. =)

[@LesterSuggs]

#1 Point to Making Great author videos.....have expertly manicured eyebrows....and animate them with gusto.

[@JennaMoreci]

+Lester Suggs LOL

[@Joeyal123]

+Jenna Moreci Glad you're feeling better, Jenna.

[@thatmugglefangirl8757]

+Jenna Moreci How long should a prologue be? I've just gotten a great idea for the prologue where a young girl gets murdered... Or does she?

[@italiancheesecurl9759]

There's a video for that...if you haven't watched it yet

[@thatmugglefangirl8757]

+Ivan Priego ok, I'll find it and watch it. Thx!

[@SCdreamdrawer]

I know it's not a book, but all forms of writing applies and I can't stop thinking of how Dragon Age: Inquisition was written involving Solas and Lavellan. You know you've made something extremely impactful when your readers/players have to wait anxiously for your next work just to find a sense of closure.

[@Superman72137]

Just finished Eve: The Awakening. Very well done! I especially loved the villain. Thanks to your advice, a fire literally lit under my ass and I have outlined 3 different stories. Which one to pursue first? Hmmm...

[@MaddieBullock]

I love your videos Jenna!! Please never stop making them! All of the tips you've given are so helpful!!

[@hildcit]

Totally agree!

[@JennaMoreci]

+Maddie Bullock thank you

[@MaddieBullock]

+Jenna Moreci You're so welcome!

[@heyitsemma3187]

BEST PLOT TWIST IVE EVER READ: maven from the red queen

[@guicaldo7164]

Oh man, the climax is by far my favourite part (no jokes about it, please) of the story, both reading and writing it. I'm disappointed at how so many people, even professionals, apparently fail to realize its importance, and thus there are so few videos about it out there. I'm so glad I found one of those. Glad I'm not the only one who feels it's very important not only to meet the expectations set up, but to blow them to simthereens and to go out with one hell of a bang! EDIT: I just finished this video, and damn I'm happy! You spoke straight out of my mind, especially your last advice about "looking back at other exciting parts and try to surpass them" is my favourite rule of thumb here, and it makes me really want to read your book. Because whenever I'm reading the book, I'm always kinda afraid of the climax, because I wonder if it will actually deliver what it sets up. It usually doesn't. But from this video, I can already tell that your book definitely doesn't fall under that category.

[@icarusablaze1831]

Are you psychic? This is litterally what I've needed advice on! Great, great video!

[@slimeydacoolguy3916]

One of my favorite climaxes is enough funny in a video game, Spider-Man PS4. Most of the stuff u mention is in the climax, an emotional connection between the protagonist (Spider-Man) and the antagonist (Doctor Octopus) as before Doctor Octopus becomes a villain he and Spider-Man were partners trying to change the world by building prosthetics. There is a build up through out the game to ending, and Doctor Octopus is shown to be a threat to be reckoned with as a police officer of many years fears him and how Doc Ock easily beats Spider-Man the fight before hand. It is then revealed that Doc Ock new Spider-Man’s identity the whole time. Doc Ock even gets the upper hand stabbing Spider-Man in the shoulder with his arms. And when Spider-Man finally beats him they have an emotional exchange the brings most audience members to tears. I love this game so much.

[@MrMusicislife69]

You are really selling your own book by being so knowledgable in book creation. Im getting interested ;)

[@JennaBookHaven]

I love making plot twists and it makes me happy when I successfully surprising my readers! :)

[@PunklockCreative]

I'm really glad I decided to search this shit and saw your vid and clicked on it because the climax is where I've been struggling A TON. I have a few rise and falls in my story and topping them has been a bit of a struggle. Your enthusiasm is helpful!! Thank you for this video (now I'm going to watch all of them!)

[@courtneym5523]

Not only is this video super helpful, but it made me want to reread your book again for the 3rd time. Your book is literally one of the most climactic books I have ever read!

[@mavenesquith6825]

*Great inspiration for climax of book just hits me... hands shaking with excitement!* Must. Take. Moment. To. Say. "I Love You!"

[@twilightjoltik3151]

Thank you. I'm currently working on the climax of a thing, and not only is this helpful, but it reassures me I'm on the right path.

[@BiatchesKilo0rin]

Your Videos are SO helpful.I'm writing the Story for my graphic novel right ,now so your channel is all I Need~

[@jimnorton7993]

Great advise. I’m about to complete my first book and it is exciting to reach this point. My next one will end in a climax. Thanks for what you do.

[@MissVDark]

Jenna you are my writing guru. if i feel stuck i watch your video and you hit me with your brilliance and i feel refreshed and ready to get writing again. thanks for what you do! :)

[@TheDGVarsity]

Im in the middle of writing my novel and I plan for the climax to be ground breaking (literally) so this comes right on time

[@sadisticplaymate69]

I love how you deliver your information don't get me wrong a lot of other vlogs have helped me wonders but I just love your foul mouth and the way you put things it makes you human and so much easier to absorb the information because you are actually fun to watch.

[@TheRegart]

This is really helpful. Im currently writing the climax to a fanfic ive been working on for a while. This makes me feel better about some of the things I've done for it.

[@StickInMudd]

Thanks Jenna, I just rewrote, in my head, the ending to my book. It should be much better now.

[@Jay_Rodimus]

thank you very much for this! I have always wanted to get into writing, and when I need some guidance on something (like a fight scene or a climax) this is where I come first.

[@Templarkommando]

I look forward to your videos every week. I hadn't realized you were feeling poorly or I would have also sent my well wishes. Great video!

[@celtictarotreadings333]

Hunger games climax was really interesting in terms of the antagonist. Nearing the end he knew he had lost he just wanted to inflict as much hurt on the rebels as he could. At katniss at the end realising he wasn’t a threat anymore that her one arrow could be put to better use.

[@TheSmolShady]

Your channel was randomly suggested to me and HOLY SHIT why did it take KZbin so long to suggest it. Your videos are awesome and are saving my stories.

[@javabl3ck]

this is super dope it was very climatic

[@AskMusicPlus]

Your vlogs are worth waiting for :) Plus, since I spend most of my time studying, I'm lacking energy to write much at the minute, so I have to live vicariously through your writing career! xD

[@shrellgirl1]

Thank you for making these videos. They are helping me revising my second book. Your super awesome for us nerds like myself.

[@MichelletheMerry]

I'm so glad you are on the mend. Nothing worse than being sick. HUGS.

[@tobeseve4020]

Man I love how all her tips line up perfectly in my favorite stories

[@vamplinvamp]

Oh I have a bad guy... He's the protagonist...

[@mocha3730]

My protagonist is also the antagonist xD

[@CHURCHTUARY]

They're the best~

[@j2dragon109]

Mocha You can't both be an antagonist and the protagonist unless your main conflict is ManVsSelf, your protagonist has spit personalities that fight each other or some cloning/time travel shenanigans. An antagonist isn't always bad they are just the main person who opposes the protagonists and their goal and thus can't be the same character (sans examples sated above and maybe some others). They can also both be good, bad or murkly grey. Oh and I do like villain-protagonists.

[@cyberyoutabe5995]

@@j2dragon109 I mean, yeah it’s true.

[@miguel0n338]

This reminds me soooo much of my favorite book, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe". The villain, the White Witch, was hands-down the scariest fictional character I ever "met" as a kid. There were other villains (Shredder, Dracula, insert TV or book baddie here) and then there was her. And the way he describes her army - with characters that "I would describe, but then the grown-ups wouldn't let you keep reading" pretty much gave me the impression all those other baddies actually work for her. The protagonists didn't stand a CHANCE! Their only hope was Aslan, and she literally kills him! Nothing "almost" about it! It was very much a "Dios en la maquina" ending or whatever they call that, but in that story it actually made sense (lol). But as a kid, I didn't know that (and I really didn't even know there was a Christian message) so it was an amazing climax to an amazing book! Now I agree with the guy who said we should avoid "Dios en la maquina", but it was still a good example. Anyway, thanks for the great video! :)

[@amickkm1955]

Thanks, Jenna. You inspire me to write more and write better. I love your voice, you long hair, your eyes, and I hope your days always have happy endings. You are pretty.

[@supershepherd]

I love you Jenna your videos are so helpful. Hope you get better and may the force be with you.💖

[@xNeroTheSablex]

Heh, Jenna! Just wanted to let you know that your videos have helped me so much to revise my script and ask myself questions I hadn't considered.

[@RkAdefilmz]

The climax of Infinity War is just every single point here in practice

[@joshkanda6477]

I honestly love these vids,after watching them I seem to get a burst of motivation thanks Jenna keep up the good work.

[@cutiepie120048]

I love this author Cinda Williams Chima, her climax gives me these urgent feelings and the plot twist has me between shock and horror. P.S. Love you!

[@marcadams3025]

Y'know what? ...You're awesome :) Thanks for the videos. These seriously brightened my day.

[@rebekahacarter6448]

Getting ready to write said Climax in a few chapters I'm kinda excited because some stuff goes down big time!

[@hildatamm1917]

I thought as much before watching your video, but it's nice to hear you affirm it.

[@nerdy_evy]

I read a story where the writer skipped over the most exciting part of the climax. It was such a good story leading up to an epic fight. Like the ending of the story hinged on this fight but than, the main female character gets knocked unconcious right before the main fight and the chapter ends. My thought was "oh okay. They'll just have the pov of the main male character in the next chapter for the fight since the writer has done that before in the book." only nope. The next chapter is still in the female protagonists pov. It starts with her waking up over a day after the fight. The main male character just enters the room and swiftly explains "yeah, you know your friend who was fighting the bad guy before you got knocked out? Well he immediately was killed. Than I ripped the evil ladys throat out and now I'm being given the throne of our species so now I am the ruler of our whole species" and thats how the climax ended. He just glosses over the fight non shalantly. The whole ending relied this fight but the writer (who usually has amazing endings to her stories) was just like "nah. You don't need to see how the ending happens"

[@amphoramorph2856]

thank u sm for this video i’m stuck on 69k words - just about to start my climax but im scared i won’t get it right

[@nikkkkko]

Thank you so much, Jenna! It has all come back to me now.

[@lillianinspace]

I love how you keep it real. Keep it up!

[@aliciarichardson7342]

I like your videos. I'm not a professional writer or author, but I do wish to become one someday. I write for fun and to let my creativity flow in words on paper because...why the heck not? And I've enjoyed your videos. They are useful and can change our many of us write books for the good and soul purpose of writership. 🤗

[@bibidhsubedi8494]

Thank you Jenna. You're Amazing :) Just the amount of help I needed.

[@alextheartist3754]

I'm about to script the climax of my graphic novel. Wish me luck! :D

[@Tylian_Dom]

damn, i binge watched like 30 of your videos and they are really helpful. You just earned yourself a new sub ... and a potential reader of your work in the future, once the money trickles in :D

[@theoddbooksout7202]

I literally just had this video on repeat in the background as I was writing.

[@matthewbarker3452]

Great video, as usual. Thanks Jenna!

[@wolffang2567]

I am glad you well, and thank you for the advise this week. Its helping me a lot.

[@kensweeney9057]

You mentioned that the protagonist should come into the climax as the underdog, but what if you add a plot twist? Have them come in expecting to be the victor, but bring in a plot twist where the protagonist doesn't succeed. Yes, it seems counter productive to the story, being that the protagonist is supposed to be the victor against the antagonist, but look as The Empire Strikes Back. The entire faction of good guys got their butts kicked through the entire movie. The MC got his hand cut off, the 2 main supporting characters were taken captive, tortured, and one was frozen and sold to a Bounty Hunter. Their only success was the final escape at the end, allowing the MC and the rest of the support cast to make it to safety and plan to rescue their friend. This lead up to the "cliff hanger" and transition for the next movie. Just thought I would mention that, so the protagonist doesn't always have to come into the climax as the under-god and then become victorious.

[@mr.k4311]

Ken Sweeney Look at the Great Gatsby as well. He had it all and the women fell for him. He also wasn't victorious

[@rsacchi100]

With Empire it was obvious there was going to be a sequel. The genre was a throwback to the movie serials that ended in cliff hangers. Only the last episode had a conclusive ending. A good question is should a writer's first novel end like Empire did?

[@agent_ocelot9390]

The climax of my second book is going to be a little different. Every once in a while, the protagonists need to actually lose, not commonly almost lose. Give it the "Empire Strikes Back" ending. "Well, the bad guys beat us. What now?"

[@sophialewis3099]

love your videos, Jenna! always so helpful!

[@J.Hill49]

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas had one, if not the most intense and epic climax's I have ever read. :) Definitely recommend the series.

[@Rafaela96april]

I've been waiting for this!!! Thank you, Jenna!!

[@SixtoStreet]

"In a book Creep-o" XD nice

[@KyomeChanTheAuthor]

thanks Jenna for your continued help with improving my Novel :}

[@seancampbell9689]

Thanks very much! That was both hilarious and educational :-)

[@TaraDobbs]

I feel like I'm back in writing class during my Freshman year. You are fantastic! It's good to get a recap for my brain and you are the ticket. BTW, you should try for a comedy. You have some serious natural talent on the screen. Would love to read some of that on paper. :D

[@WordsAndWhimsy]

Readers will rage when they get to my climax and probably throw the book against a wall. But that's kind of the point lol. Great tips!

[@stephr5914]

sometimes I have to be alone in the house when I read a surprising plot twist or climax, because that's usually when I start gasping like I'm dying or screaming at the book because I'm so INTO it

[@ameliaspence5363]

As always a really good and helpful video!

[@sarahsutton7924]

Love these posts - Jenna knows her onions!

[@martiuscastle]

You know, the "rise of evil" advice, can really go unoticed. Good, very good one!

[@theminisimmer]

I'm a child I totally giggled when I saw the word climax

[@makenitrainpops]

You should do a video on internal dialogue. Love your videos!

[@arrozconleche8246]

It was s0 fcking hard and it took almost half of my lifetime, but i finally got a decent climax with a nice little plot twist 😔👌 thanks Jenna, love u

[@Godspitgrl]

Is it bad to write the climax first? This way you know not to surpass it.

[@rashmika9742]

+Godspitgrl Good idea!

[@applepuppy1474]

nice idea!

[@c.d.dailey8013]

I prefer to write the story in order. Having the climax be the biggest can be planned ahead of time by using an outline.

[@pinkpoison6474]

But where is the excitement in that?!

[@nerdstudeb]

+jenna moreci i wanted to say great videos, i find your advice inspiring and informative. im an aspiring writer and i have two villians in my manuscript,both of which are perfect to be the main antagonists but i cant seem to decide who should be the main villian and who should be subordinate to the main antagonist. please do a video on how to choose an antagonist for a manuscript or how to create a worthy adversary for the hero in a manuscript, im sure i and many other aspiring writers could benefit from your advice.

[@lennie4778]

This was years ago but it’s really helping and it was funny so thank you so much!!

[@rosiebrotherton4911]

Whether it’s better to have an active beginning (like a fight scene) or to have a gentle beginning

[@mangeshkadu381]

Anyone wants a 'But Jenna' Compilation video. Hands up in the air now! Love you Jenna

[@manofqwerty]

I think the climax is literally the reward for getting to this point in the book

[@AdrianaMartinez-eo8xr]

Yes! Your videos make my Wednesdays so fucking awesome! ❤❤❤ 😘

[@Ojfniorfreiovnrelkfnrklen]

I needed this, thanks!

[@insouciantlyalive8725]

do you have any tips on inserting art into your book

[@brandonj7586]

Just... put it into the book when appropriate...

[@Abdooax]

always helpful and entertaining.

[@lilacpetals2006]

Where should I write my story? In a note book, Microsoft Word? What do you recommend?

[@wkcyrokin122]

Wherever you feel most comfortable writing. I personally write my rough drafts on college-ruled notebook paper and type the next draft on WordPad, but every author is different. Just go with whatever you please. :)

[@Bluehend]

Lilac Petals when writing for the first time, I suggest on a notebook but editing the first draft is better on word

[@kaylar.8126]

I use google docs in case my computer were to ever crash.

[@dylanarmstrong9328]

I use google drive because I can access it from any computer easily. Only problem is that you need internet to use unlike microsoft word

[@justingr0334]

I just use word

[@joyzzo]

This girl is amazing, I swear😂

[@JBLesel]

You help me get over my writing panic attacks :)

[@Morkelfan]

"That's it? I read the whole book for that?" *angrily stares at the shelf of unsatisfying books*

[@natalierobertsauthor]

I love Wednesday because it means a new video. You make me laugh every time. Reading my signed copy of Eve right now. Your enthusiasm and knowledge inspires me. So much so, I took the leap and started my own KZbin channel. I'm a Non-Fiction writer so that's the gist of my videos. But if it wasn't for you I wouldn't have sat in front of the camera and filmed in the first place, so THANK YOU!!

[@HunterBoyleReacts]

Glad youre feeling better!!

[@roshithesayian6801]

Love your videos also very informative 🤔