Fiction Writing: What is the ‘Black Moment?’
The ‘Black Moment’ is a major turning point in a fictional story where the main characters lose hope. They have struggled to achieve a specific goal and at this dark, bleak moment something happens, either triggered by the opposition or by their own weaknesses that cause them to believe they’ve failed and ‘all is lost.’
In Fiction Writing: What is the ‘Black Moment?’ we give you tips and illustrative examples to help you create a fabulous Black Moment scene of your own.
In the post below we will discuss:
- What is the Black Moment? (and its location in the plot)
- The Various Causes of a Black Moment
- Consequences of a Black Moment
- How the Black Moment Leads to the Climax in Act III
- An Example from the Movie “Armageddon”
1) What is the Black Moment? (and its location in the plot)
The ‘Black Moment’ is named as such because it is the darkest, bleakest, most miserable moment in the story. It appears the main character(s) have failed in their quest to achieve the overall story goal and they feel ‘all is lost.’ This moment triggers solemn, glum, hopeless thoughts and emotions. It is believed that the opposition has the upper hand and that the main character has no way to overcome the obstacles in his or her path.
The Black Moment occurs about three-quarters of the way through the story and is a major third turning point in the plot of your fictional novel.
2) The Various Causes of a Black Moment
The Black Moment can be a result of a major attack by the antagonist or villain in your fictional story. Perhaps there is a quiet incident with profound effects, or a full-scale disaster event created by the antagonist to thwart your main character. Did the antagonist set your protagonist up to take the fall for something he didn’t do? Has he been framed or is he trapped? Did the antagonist expose a secret the main character wanted to keep hidden? Did the villain kidnap the heroine?
If the antagonist is a force of nature, perhaps the Black Moment is when the volcano erupts and buries the main characters, and it doesn’t seem as if they will survive. Or perhaps it is when the characters are separated on a sinking ship, and they don’t know if they will ever see each other again.
The Black Moment is when the one thing the main character fears comes true. If he fears being alone, then this is the moment that leads all the other characters to abandon him. If she fears losing a health battle, then this is the moment when it looks like ‘all is lost.’
Then there is also the Black Moment that is created by the main character himself. If a character has a certain weakness or flaw he or she has been struggling throughout the entire story to overcome, then at this fearful moment when it looks like everything is falling apart, the character will go back to embracing that flaw. This often causes arguments between romantic couples, companions, family members, or whole teams.
Example:
If a man has been making strides toward trusting others again after a betrayal, and then is given ‘what appears to be’ evidence that a new person in his life has also betrayed him, he may accuse, lash out, and withdraw from the relationship, believing he was right from the beginning—no one can be trusted. Reverting to his original character flaw or beliefs may hurt loved ones, especially if the so-called ‘evidence’ turns out to be false. (The antagonist may also be involved by planting this ‘false evidence’ hoping to defeat the protagonist.)
3) Consequences of a Black Moment
The event or incident or whatever happened at the Black Moment leads the main characters to separate, leaving the protagonist alone. This may or may not be by choice.
For example, if the villain kidnaps the love interest of the main character during a Black Moment event, then the romantic relationship may appear doomed, even if the couple is still in love. For some reason, they are separated and there is no guarantee they will see one another again.
Or if the main character does not believe he can trust his companion, he may send that person away by direct order or by delivering harsh comments. It is possible the main character may think he is not fit to be in a relationship and so he decides to end it, despite the protests of the other character. Or the main character may quit a team, or the team may quit him due to the flaws he refuses to fully overcome.
The Black Moment scene leaves the main character alone so that he /she can have time to reflect on all that has come before this moment and all that might have been if not for this big blow they received.
4) How the Black Moment Leads to the Climax in Act III
The Black Moment is an important part of the story because it sets up the needed components that lead to the ending Climax, the most exciting scene in the entire book.
• Revelation. After the protagonist (main character) finds himself alone and has had time to dwell on what transpired at the Black Moment and the events that led him up to this point in the story, he or she gains new information or insight that changes everything.
The character may learn the antagonist’s game plan or discover a way to finally try to defeat him. Perhaps he discovers the antagonist’s weakness. Another character may deliver this new information, or the protagonist can discover it for himself.
Or the character may learn he had the wrong information at the Black Moment and that he was wrong to act the way he did or say the things he did. Some serious apologies may be in order.
• Decision. The protagonist decides to do something about it. He decides that he will regroup and give it his all—one last time—to try to overcome the opposition. He will not let the Black Moment keep him down.
• Regathering of the team or needed tools or supplies.
The protagonist may need to apologize to those he hurt at the Black Moment and regather his team to help him defeat the antagonist at the upcoming Climax scene. Whatever tools, supplies, magical items, weapons, evidence, testimonies, etc. he will need at the Climax, he needs to collect now. Everything comes back together or is lined up or set in motion.
• Climax. Face to face confrontation between the main character and the opposition where it will be decided once and for all—will the protagonist achieve his over-arching story goal or not? How does the story end?
5) An Example from the Movie “Armageddon”
“Armageddon”
(1998 movie starring Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck)
Story blurb: The film follows a team of deep-core drillers who are recruited by NASA to stop a massive asteroid from colliding with Earth and causing the end of the world.
Black Moment:
Harry Stamper’s crew loses the last tranny (which bursts while trying to drill into the hard surface material of the asteroid). They need to drill an 800 ft. hole before they drop down a nuclear bomb to explode the asteroid from the inside, otherwise it will still impact Earth. Worse, the pressure of this transmission explosion shoots their friend, Max, who was operating the equipment, out into space where he will undoubtedly die.
They think the other crew team perished in a crash landing and that they were Earth’s last hope. They believe they have failed. Everyone will die.
Harry Stamper says, “Better call Truman and prepare the world for the worst.”
The protagonist usually goes back to or is confronted with his own flaw or weakness at the black moment. Harry Stamper, who has always been confident in his abilities, is now faced with the fact that despite his best efforts, he is only human and capable of failure.
The Black Moment causes team members to separate. (Max is gone. The other crew is gone. And the remainder of this crew is a long way from Earth.) This ends Act II.
Next, Act III starts with a turn-around, the introduction of new information: a Revelation Scene.
The other team with the Armadillo is not dead and three of the team members are driving toward them right now with another tranny to give them one last shot. This new revelation gives the protagonist the motivation to decide to try one last time to achieve his goal.
The team and the tools are gathered for the mission they need to accomplish. The Climax will answer the question—will they succeed?
We hope you have enjoyed Fiction Writing: What is the ‘Black Moment?’ and that you have gained some valuable insight that will help you create a fabulous ‘black moment’ for the characters in your own story.
If you have any questions or would like to leave a comment below, we would love to hear from you!
If you like more help developing your story, you may wish to download our Free Brainstorming Your Story Idea Worksheet
Do you find it difficult to create compelling antagonists and villains for your stories? Do your villains feel cartoonish and unbelievable? Do they lack motivation or a specific game plan? Discover the secrets to crafting villains that will stick with your readers long after they finish your story, with our How to Create Antagonists & Villains Workbook.
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is a multi-published author, speaker, and writing coach. She writes sweet contemporary, inspirational, and historical romance and loves teaching aspiring writers how to write quality fiction. Read her inspiring story of how she published her first book and launched a successful writing career.