Writers in the Storm

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October 21, 2024

What’s at Stake? Here’s How You Find Out

By Becca Puglisi

Stakes are a crucial part of your story because they define what will happen if the protagonist fails. To build reader empathy, you need this piece in place because when the reader sees what’s at stake, and they recognize why it matters to the character, the story becomes important. It matters

Stakes also create tension when the reader realizes what’s on the line. So when the stakes are referenced early on, readers are more likely to be drawn in and root for the character’s success.

But that empathy connection only happens if the reader can see what’s at stake. And that can only happen if the author knows what’s on the line. Sometimes, it’s obvious. What are the consequences if Sheriff Brody doesn’t catch the shark in Jaws? Death and dismemberment. In the original Inside Out, if all of Riley’s emotions aren’t acknowledged and won’t work together, her identity is at risk. 

But other times, it’s harder to identify what’s at stake in a story. So I’d like to share a simple method for figuring that out.

Outer Motivation + Inner Motivation = Stakes

All you have to do is figure out a couple of key elements for your story.

The Protagonist’s Goal

First: the protagonist’s goal. This is their overall objective. It’s what they’re hoping to achieve: getting the girl, enacting revenge, catching the criminal, etc. This is also called the Outer Motivation because it’s what the character is visibly working toward; everything he or she does is in pursuit of this objective. In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo’s goal is to destroy the one ring. In An Officer and a Gentleman, the protagonist’s goal is to become a Navy officer. The story goal should be pretty obvious because it’s what your character is actively seeking and pursuing.

The Protagonist’s Inner Motivation

But, often, there’s also something internally driving your character toward their goal. This is called the Inner Motivation because its private and is usually related to self-esteem or personal fulfillment. Figuring this out requires some digging into the character’s psyche and their past, but on a basic level, you can simply ask: Why is the goal so important to them?

In An Officer and a Gentleman, why does Zach Mayo want to become a Navy officer? There are lots of possibilities, but the true reason becomes clear when you know his backstory. His mother committed suicide, abandoning him as a ten-year-old. He was sent to live with his father, who was an excellent drinking buddy but not good for much else. And his dad’s military career had them moving all over so he could never put down roots. What Zach craves more than anything is belonging, and becoming a military officer will provide that for him. This is going to meet an internal need that’s missing. Belonging to a group is his inner motivation.

One interesting connection to note: the inner motivation will often point back to a missing human need.

If you’ve followed Angela and me for long, you’ve likely heard about Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs and how it fits into character arc. The full explanation is here, but to summarize, there are 5 needs that are common to all human beings. If any of these are missing, people become vulnerable, and they’ll take action to fill the void. 

So, when we’re thinking about how to create meaningful stakes for a character, it’s helpful to zero in on which need is missing or most important to them—and be sure it’s tied to their inner motivation. For Zach, he’s missing love and belonging. He’s chosen a goal that, if he succeeds, will usher him into a ready-made community. So what’s at stake if he fails? Not belonging—continuing to live in isolation, alone.

SIDE NOTE: It’s important to note that not every protagonist has an inner motivation. This happens a lot in stories that are plot-driven rather than character-driven: thrillers, action/adventure, etc. Think: Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, and vintage James Bond. Those stories are all about the character achieving the goal rather than them growing and maturing, so that internal piece isn’t necessarily needed. In stories like these, the stakes will be very obvious: the end of the world, someone dying, the Nazis getting the Ark of the Covenant and becoming all-powerful, etc.

Bonus: You Can Start from Anywhere

The cool thing about this method is you don’t have to know all your story elements at once; you can start with the inner or outer motivation to figure out the rest of the pieces.

Example 1: Start with the story goal. You know you’re writing a romance with a protagonist who’s looking for true love. What missing human need will be filled if they succeed (inner motivation/human need)?  What’s at stake if they fail?

Example 2: Start with the human need/internal motivation that’s driving their behavior. You know your character inside and out, so you’ve already identified their wound and the human need that’s been compromised. Let’s say it’s Esteem and Recognition. What story goal might they pursue that would fill that void? What’s at stake if they fail to reach their objective?

And now you know how to figure out what’s at stake for your story. Convey that to readers early on, and you’ll show them why the story matters, making it engaging and difficult to put down.

Have you identified the stakes for your protagonist? What’s on the line for them externally and/or internally?

About Becca

Becca Puglisi

Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and other resources for writers. Her books have sold over 1 million copies and are available in multiple languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online resource for authors that's home to the Character Builder and Storyteller's Roadmap tools.

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8 comments on “What’s at Stake? Here’s How You Find Out”

  1. Well, I definitely need to search for my protagonist's inner motivation, and even if he has one. I know his outer motivation-- to prevent William the Conqueror from taking over the Anglo Saxon realm of England, but I need to decide if he has an inner motivation.
    Thanks for giving me this to think about.

  2. Thank you for writing this post! This came at the perfect time,right before I start a new novel in a series I am writing.

    What started as one book has morphed into three and will come full circle to the first book. That means I need MAKE SURE I have all motivations for all characters ironed out so that it all makes sense. I will print this post out so I can refer to it as I write the new book. Thanks again!

  3. V.M, if you're writing a story with a change arc, where the character undergoes an internal change during the course of the story, the inner motivation is literally everything. In your character's case, I would look at the reason why they're pursuing that outer goal. I'm sure it's somewhat global-minded——saving a people from oppression or losing their cultural identity, etc. But if you can also make it personal, it will resonate more with readers. To use a somewhat similar story example, look at the movie Braveheart. William Wallace wanted to save his people from tyranny, but at his core, he believes he failed Murrain, and that even in death she's watching over him. And he wants to make himself worthy in her eyes. Those personal stakes make his story even more compelling. Good for you for figuring out this important piece of your character's arc :).

    1. @Becca - By the way, I hope one of us told you in advance that we're having an issue with nesting comments. The only way we seem to be able to do it is from the back end, which isn't so helpful. I've got to go see if Jay can find the magic fix for this.

  4. Alexsandra, I agree that this is crucial for each book in a series because the motivations will often change. In a series, the outer motivation often stays the same (destroying the One Ring in the LotR books), but inner motivation will shift from book to book because each book needs to have its own complete arc, with the character growing in a specific way. Thanks for reading!

  5. This is so valuable for me. I struggle with balancing Inner and Outer Motivation. I've tried Bob Mayer's conflict lock, but I like tying this into Maslow's hierarchy better. I'm pretty excited to go try this right now, Becca! 🙂

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