Raise the stakes. The stakes aren’t high enough. This story lacks stakes. Have you heard any of these lines before? Was it in regards to your story? Yikes. If that’s the case, you need to understand how stakes work. Once you know that, you’ll know how to add them to your manuscript.
But, what are stakes? They’re the fear factor of the story. They affect the suspense, conflict, and impact of the plot. Why are the characters doing what they’re doing? What will happen if they don’t do this? What will they lose? Often, the stakes are the life or death of the protagonist or that of someone they care for. But, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, the outcome affects the world. For example, catch the villain, destroy the virus, or everyone will die. And other stories focus on intimate stakes. If a character doesn’t achieve his goal, he’ll be miserable.
So, what are stakes really about? Goals. Without them, your character wanders around doing things for no reason. There are no consequences and no rewards for what he’s doing. And therefore, the reader doesn’t care about him.
But the stakes need to be important to the character. If Sean needs to keep Kathy safe from a mob hit because that’s his job, then his job needs to be important to him. What will happen if he loses it? Of course, you can go a step further with this and have him develop feelings for her. Now, the stakes have just increased because if he fails to keep her safe, not only will he lose his job, but the love of his life, too.
Now, go back to your WIP and double check if your stakes are high enough. And even if you think they are, can you possibly make them higher? Can you punish your poor character even more?
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Great explanation. I often wake in the night worrying about the things I put characters through - things I'd never wish on a fellow human I actually knew! But this is what stories need. I'm tweeting this.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post! It made me stop reading mid-way and take notes on my own WIP. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteUgh, stakes are my weak point. Will definitely watch out for problems in that area! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIf I threw any more stakes at him, my main character would be dead.
ReplyDeleteVery good point, though.
This is my pet peeve, as it seems that the only stakes that count any more are life or death, end of the world kind of stuff.
ReplyDeleteLife is about so much more that that!
I try to have personal stakes as well as save the world stakes, but sometimes it's hard to have both, and sometimes they conflict. Great post!
ReplyDeleteIt's so true... right now I'm going back through the first novel I wrote, back in 2007, and am changing the character's motivation, raising the stakes in the process. There simply wasn't enough tension, and raising the stakes seemed like the best way to add more. Great advice!
ReplyDeleteWhile I was completing the first draft of my wip, I was afraid I was throwing too much at my main character too fast. The story takes place over a long weekend, and the poor gal hardly gets a chance to sleep. Now I'm going back to make sure I gave her a couple of breathers. If I make the stakes too high, she'll give up or make a fatal mistake.
ReplyDeleteAlex, I can't help asking... is your character a vampire? (i.e. susceptible to being killed by a stake through the heart)
ReplyDeleteThat was the first thing I thought of when I read your commment, and it made me laugh.
Christine, that's funny. I read it like he was just tossing a lot of tough times his way, but your idea would work,too. Now, I'm curious.
ReplyDeleteLynnette Labelle
I find that the dreaded middle section is always toughest on pacing and stakes-raising, but I'm working on spreading things out more evenly.
ReplyDeletea good question to ask myself.
ReplyDelete