The Great Revelation
From Despair To Transformation
We've come to one of my favorite parts of any story: The Great Revelation. Often known as the 'aha moment' or realization, this story beat is short but POWERFUL. We touched on this subject briefly last week while talking about the dark night of the soul, but it definitely deserves its own post. So here we go!
Culmination
Your MC is broken. Really broken. Not just physically, although that can add to the effect. No, their entire world has been torn down and stripped away, leaving them emotionally spent. Leaving them alone with their thoughts, and the consequences of their decisions.
Every moment in their life, every choice they've made since the inciting incident, has led them here. It all points to this, it always has, but they were too wrapped up in their fear and assumptions to see it.
This is why having unique characters with their own arcs/development is so important. If it means something to the character, it will mean something to the reader. I could rant about this for hours, but you didn't come here for that, so instead let's break this idea of culmination down into some bite-sized pieces.
- Whatcha Sayin'?
You should have done this before you ever sat down to write this book, but do it again anyway: Take a minute, or two, or however long you need, and think about what you're trying to say with this story. Think about the message you want to leave your readers with. What is the truth that you want to tell the whole world?
...Or, just one person? If one of your target audience stopped what they were doing to listen to your words, what would you tell them? You obviously wouldn't preach, or try to hammer it into their skull (figuratively or literally) - you would want to have a conversation with them. You would want to explore the theme you're so passionate about together.
- The Bridge
We know what's coming: The climax, where the MC finally overcomes their fear and goes after their goal with renewed vigor and determination. But how exactly do they get from despair to. . . That?
The revelation, of course.
I like to think of it as a balance point between two 'versions' of the MC - before and after transformation - kind of like a seesaw. Everything on both sides points to this moment. And if done correctly, with the MC's core beliefs at the center, it creates a seamless bridge between the Dark Night and the Final Confrontation (which we'll look at next week.)
Metamorphosis
This is the most emotionally meaningful moment for your MC: The moment they realize they were wrong.
They can't achieve happiness until they stop running from their fear. They have to face it - and sometimes, they realize that what they thought would make them happy is not really what they need after all. And in order to face their fear and find true happiness, they have to overcome their most crippling flaw of all: That worldview that's blinded them to this truth for so long.
This realization is not always spelled out, especially when you're writing for older audiences. The way I like to write it is simply turn my MC's worldview on its head, revealing the truth I want to give my reader.
This can be written in many ways - through a dream, wisdom from a friend or mentor, or simply the MC's own thought process. It doesn't matter how you do it, as long as it's sincere and results in the MC's decision to try one more time.
Thus the character transforms from the fearful, reactionary protagonist to the full-fledged hero they were always meant to be.
Rally
Your MC now has the courage - and worldview - needed to face the biggest challenge of all. Whether they know it's coming or not, or if they're the instigator of said challenge, is totally up to you and what your story needs to be.
Regardless, it's important that these last few chapters - especially the Revelation - mean as much to you as to the MC. Make it something you're passionate about! That way, when your MC rallies (and raises up the rest of the cast along with them, if necessary) it will feel sincere and solid and your reader will be running on more adrenaline than they know what to do with.
More importantly, the Revelation will stay with your reader, leave an impression on them, and maybe give them courage to face their own challenges in life.
Your MC has transformed so much since the first chapter, and that change is at the forefront of everything they do from now on. This isn't the end, though. Oh, no; the final battle/confrontation/conflict is still to come. So make sure to subscribe if you haven't already - you don't want to miss the next post!
Best of luck to you on your writing journey, mate!
- Lydia
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