Raise The Stakes
There’s a great article from Gideon’s Screenwriting Tips called “25 Ways to Raise the Stakes in Your Script.” See the full article here:
https://gideonsway.wordpress.com/2017/03/07/25-ways-to-raise-the-stakes-in-your-script-writing-you-need-to-use/
Writers must explain how not achieving their goals will affect the characters, not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually too. It needs to be deeply personal.Some ways to raise the stakes for your main characters by examining the repercussions if they fail:
- They lose the respect of their close family and friends
- They lose respect for themselves
- They lose the respect of those who depend on them
- They damage a professional relationship that relies on the success of the mission
- They will lose a bet
- An embarrassing misunderstanding will occur
- Deep emotional pain and turmoil will result
- They will be forced to confront their biggest fear
- Their belief sand moral compass are challenged
- A meeting or deeply wanted connection will be missed
- A closely-held secret is revealed
- A lie will prevail while the truth will be hidden
- A war or deep conflict will start
- Someone will die or be seriously injured
- They must sacrifice an innocent person
- They cause harm to somebody else
- They will be banished from their homeland
- They are forced to give up something valuable
- They underestimate the cost of their goal
- They take an unnecessary risk
- They are forced to change their plan or their goal
- A meeting or deeply wanted connection will be missed
- Their plan will be severely set back
- A villain will escape or be be set free
- Justice will be miscarried
BONUS LINK! Another good article on raising stakes here:
https://writersedit.com/fiction-writing/5-surefire-ways-raise-stakes-story/