The stakes of a story aid in increasing reader engagement.
Raising the stakes of your story can transform it from a good read into an
irresistible page-turner. Continue reading to learn about the various types of
stakes in a story.
What Are Stakes in Writing?
Story stakes in fiction writing refer to what is at stake
for the characters, particularly the main character. Stakes define what the
protagonist stands to gain or lose as the story's central conflict unfolds.
High stakes are ticking time bombs that inject compelling drama into a story's
conflict. A well-written character arc will include some level of backstory
that provides context for the character's risk or moral quandary. Having
meaningful stakes affects story structure and gets readers to care about the
central dilemma whether you're writing an action-packed thriller, science
fiction novel or mystery, or a slower-paced romance or drama.
Three Types of Story Stakes
When developing a story's main plot or character, fiction
writers typically use one of the stakes listed below.
1. External stakes: External stakes refer to the larger
context of the story or what is going on in the world around your characters.
For example, the protagonist may need to reach a mountaintop before an
impending storm or warn the world's top scientists of a meteorite hurtling
toward Earth. External stakes provide a reason for the main character to act
independently of their own life. External stakes act like a ticking clock,
heightening the drama as the story nears its conclusion.
2. Internal stakes: The emotions or thoughts that drive a
character to act are referred to as internal stakes. Anger, love,
sentimentality, or revenge, for example, can all fuel a character.
3. Personal stakes: Personal stakes explain why a character
does what they do. They are the primary impetus for a character's actions.
Backstory can set the stage for the main character's life and allow the reader
to see things through their eyes. For example, the hero of the story may need
to apprehend a group of bad guys who murdered her parents and are now planning
to kidnap her betrothed.
How to Use Stakes in a Story
Raising the stakes of your story is an effective way to
capture the reader's attention and keep them reading. Here are some writing
tips for making the most of story stakes:
Make use of a variety of stakes. Using multiple stakes at
the same time is an effective way to raise the stakes of a story. Show the
reader what your character wants to do and why, what external obstacles are in
their way, and how the character feels about the central conflict of the story.
Make use of backstory to demonstrate their motivation. Subplots can also be
used to do the same for other characters. For example, one of the supporting
characters may want to assist the protagonist because the villain murdered her
family and she is now out for vengeance.
Concentrate on your character's environment. Even when
discussing external stakes, return to the central characters. The end of the
world or the detonation of a bomb should not be an abstraction; it should
remind the protagonist of what they stand to lose. Raise the stakes for the
main character”perhaps her daughter lives in the blast or tsunami zone that is
about to hit the country.
Experiment with different points of view. The effects of
various points of view (or POVs) differ. You can write in the first person to
create a sense of immediacy, or in the third person to reveal information that
the main character is unaware of. In a story, you can switch perspectives,
focusing on the protagonist's actions one moment and then switching to the
antagonist's to show their motivation and stakes the next.
Increase the stakes for a single character at a time. Rather
than raising the stakes for every character in a scene, concentrate on raising
the stakes for one at a time. Begin with the main character. This will help to
clarify the story's goal and give the reader something to focus on.
