(Originally this post was published on Blogger.)
The importance of high stakes
I've already discussed the importance of having goals and the inevitable conflict that follows from that (blog post: Storytelling) but I didn’t say much about the amount of conflict.
It’s simple. The amount of conflict depends on how high the states are. High states mean lots of conflict, while low stakes lead to less conflict.
Think of it this way: if you bet the price of a coffee on your sports team winning a game, you wouldn't care as much about the outcome as if you had bet your entire rent for the month. (Not that I’m recommending that!)"
Stakes and Suspense
"Goals—especially diametrically opposed ones—are important because they are necessary for conflict. For example, Jan wants to be homecoming queen, and so does Wanda. If Wanda becomes queen, then Jan can’t, and vice versa.
But the conflict between characters striving toward opposing goals means little without high stakes. Why? Because the stakes control the suspense. Low stakes, low suspense. High stakes, high suspense.
An example: Rob versus the tuxedo
What are stakes?
Stakes are the possible consequences of a course of action. What will happen if the protagonist achieves his goal? What will happen if he doesn't?
Here’s an example. Let's say we have a character, Rob. Rob is on a diet; he wants to lose 20 pounds before his brother's wedding. Here are two versions of the story:
Version 1
Possibility A: Rob loses the 20 pounds and doesn’t have to rent a tuxedo.
Possibility B: Rob fails to lose 20 pounds and has to rent a tuxedo.
The story question: Will Rob lose 20 pounds in time for his brother’s wedding and, as a result, not have to rent a tuxedo, or will he fail and be forced to rent a tuxedo?
Either way, so what? Why should we care? I don't know about you, but I don't have strong feelings about rented tuxedos!
Let’s increase the stakes.
Version 2
Rob makes a bet with his brother that if he can't fit into his tuxedo in time for the wedding, he'll cover the wedding expenses. However, financing the wedding would deplete Rob’s savings, preventing him from fulfilling his lifelong dream of climbing Mount Everest. If he fails to achieve this dream, he will be depressed, lose his friends, and develop an unnatural addiction to Cheetos."
Now we have:
Possibility A': Rob loses 20 pounds and not only fits into his tuxedo but is able to fulfil his dream of climbing Mount Everest. Subsequently, he starts a new blog to share his experiences, connecting with numerous like-minded individuals. Rob lives a meaningful life, surrounded by those who genuinely care about him.
Possibility B': Rob fails to lose the 20 pounds, resulting in not only having to rent a tuxedo but also being unable to fulfill his dream of climbing Mount Everest. Consequently, Rob falls into depression, never starts a blog, develops an addiction to Cheetos, and ultimately dies alone.
Here’s our new story question:
Will Rob succeed in losing the 20 pounds before the wedding, enabling him to fulfill his dream of climbing Mount Everest? Or will he fail, end up covering the costs of his brother's wedding, succumb to depression, and ultimately die alone?
That's a better story question. Obviously this example is tongue in cheek, but hopefully it illustrates the crucial concept.
Once Rob has something of emotional significance at stake, we naturally care more about what happens to him. In order for this to work, though, the possible consequences of a course of action must be clear.
Thanks for reading!
I’m interested in what you think about the importance of high stakes to a compelling story. Do you believe that high stakes are always necessary to create conflict? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments! :-)
I look forward to chatting with you again soon. In the meantime, happy writing!