8 Ways to Raise Your Story's Stakes

Stakes are what the character has to lose if they don't achieve their goal, and at any given moment in the story. Raising the stakes is one of the core ways to improve a story that isn't working. Low stakes can make it hard for the reader to invest, whereas high stakes will keep them turning pages and invested in the character's future. Here are 8 simple ways to raise your story's stakes! LEARN MORE: -4 Ways to Structure a Novel:    • 4 Ways to Structure a Novel   -How to Write Suspense:    • How to Write Suspense   -How to Write Conflict:    • How to Write Conflict   TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:11 - Create goals 1:55 - Add a ticking clock 3:00 - Raise the emotional stakes 4:17 - Raise the external consequences 5:40 - Create a sacrifice 6:28 - Avoid plot armour 7:49 - Create stakes in each scene 8:25 - Create moral no-win situations FIND REEDSY HERE: Blog: https://blog.reedsy.com Facebook:   / wearereedsy   Twitter:   / reedsyhq   Instagram:   / reedsy_hq   RESOURCES: Book Editor: https://reedsy.com/write-a-book Reedsy Discovery [indie book reviews]: https://reedsy.com/discovery Webinars: https://blog.reedsy.com/live/ Bestseller Podcast: https://blog.reedsy.com/podcast/ Prompts & Writing Contest: https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writ... Plot Generator: https://blog.reedsy.com/plot-generator/ Character Name Generator: https://blog.reedsy.com/character-nam... Pen Name Generator: https://blog.reedsy.com/pen-name-gene... Book Title Generator: https://blog.reedsy.com/book-title-ge... Writing Exercises: https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-exerc... Writing Contest Directory: https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-conte... Literary Magazine Directory: https://blog.reedsy.com/literary-maga... ePub to MOBI Converter: https://blog.reedsy.com/epub-to-mobi-... Reedsy Learning [free courses]: https://blog.reedsy.com/learning/