FAQ About the Dark Moment

What is it?

Dec 13, 2023

Is the Dark Moment when I check my bank balance? Is it when I prepare my taxes and see what I spent and made on writing romance in 2023? Those are gray moments but they don't come close to "The Dark Moment." The dark moment is the time in the novel when the protagonist reaches rock bottom, and defeat seems inevitable. I’ve read that not all books require dark moments, but any books I love contain a powerful one.

A dark moment cannot be light gray. It needs to be very dark, hopeless, almost impossible. Without a dark moment, no change can take place. Our character needs to question themselves. If they aren't put into a position where they are forced to change, they won't. The dark moment forces the main characters to question their beliefs, philosophy, or past actions. They'll face past fears and weaknesses and conquer the flaws that up to this point have held them back.

Take your character's beliefs and what they worship and test them. If they believe in love, give them a cheating spouse. If they love their home, have it burn to the ground. If they enjoy their job, have them get laid off. If they’re surrounded by a circle of friends, create a situation where the friends turn against them. If they believe money is the answer to everything, put them in a position where they discover it can't buy the health of a loved one. Usually, there is a sacrifice involved.

Dark Moments are pivotal points in your story before the character has a breakthrough or catharsis. Before this point, they did things the old way. The Dark Moment typically turns up near the end of Act 2. It lends a push to the second plot point and precedes the climax, where the plot question problem is answered or resolved.
The Dark Moment is a scene, but it doesn't mean it's the only dark moment. What makes this dark moment scene different from other dark moments? The Dark Moment scene will be more intense and change our main character for the better. Up to the Dark Moment scene, our main character will avoid change at all costs, but now, after they abandon all hope, they are willing to do anything and change for the better.
It's a Moment of Truth. They can finally see themselves for what they are, and there is no more hiding or lying to themselves. They reflect on all the mistakes they've made up to now. Now, the character realizes they are ready to try new things.
After the Dark Moment, they become the heroes the reader wants them to be. They realize they can't go back. They can only go forward, ready to be this new, improved person.
Without a dark moment, your main characters flounder and don't have respect for themselves. They don't prove themselves worthy or bring on the climax or resolution of the conflict within themselves. Do not to make this too easy for your characters.
Make the dark moment believable. Do your research. Close-up plot holes.
If it’s a romance, make the heroine have a role in saving herself.
Remember to feed into your story's theme.

How do we write Dark Moments? Revisit our own. You can't live a life without having trauma, loss, and disillusionment. The world is often not a friendly, fuzzy place. Barbie is just a movie and we don’t live in Barbieland. Tap into your past angst and writing those dark moments should come quickly.

Readers love characters who have everything stripped away from them yet survive and find a way to win. It's your job as a writer to provide this experience. What is your favorite dark moment in a book or seen in a movie or in your WIP? Leave in the comment section below.

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