Are your story’s stakes falling flat?

Tell me if this sounds familiar:

Your story is doing everything “right": the plot moves, the scenes build, the characters want things. And yet, something’s missing.

It’s technically solid, but still doesn’t land.

Readers aren’t connecting. They’re not invested. They may even give the dreaded, "Why do we care?” note.

That’s not a plot problem — it’s a stakes problem.

3 ways to keep your story’s stakes from falling flat

1. Look beyond “big” stakes.

Writers often think they need explosions, life-and-death, or ticking clocks to raise the stakes. And those are effective tools, don't get me wrong.

But real stakes don’t have to be loud, they just have to mean something. That can be especially important to remember if you're writing a lighthearted story like a romcom.

In Notting Hill, nobody dies if Will doesn’t win Anna’s heart. But every time the story deepens their emotional connection — the stakes rise, and we feel it. Because we know what’s really on the line is their future happiness.

2. Escalate, don't stagnate.

Stakes aren't a "set it and forget it" situation, and raising the stakes isn’t a one-time event — it’s a process of increasing importance, urgency, or meaning over time.

In The Ring, protagonist Rachel's life is at stake from early on. How can the story possibly raise those stakes? The writers found a way: by giving Rachel's son the same curse. Once that happens, it's even more important for her to stay alive. Now we're rooting for her to save them both.

3. Mine the personal layer.

The most powerful stakes aren’t just external (“Will they win?”). They’re internal (“What does winning mean to them?”). Survival. Identity. Belonging. Purpose. That’s where your audience feels something real.

In most cases, audiences need something more than just fun entertainment. They need a reason to care about what happens in your story.

That’s the function of story stakes.

And that’s what November's workshop is all about. Helping you figure out what your story actually means — to your characters, and to your audience.

Raise the Stakes!

Build a script that makes readers care deeply — by crafting meaningful stakes that power every beat of your story.

📅 Sunday, November 9th at 9am PT / 12pm ET
⏱ 90 minutes + live Q&A
🎥 Replay included

​👉 Get all the details and grab your spot here. (Just $27 through November 3rd, then $39)

It’s a practical, story-level workshop for writers who want to create stories that make people feel. We'll talk about:

✅ The 10+ different types of stakes you can use in your story and how to layer them for maximum impact
✅ Where and how to establish, escalate, and resolve stakes across 3 Act structure
✅ How to make your story’s goal more important, urgent, or meaningful as events unfold
✅ Plus, you'll get a checklist to pressure test your own story's stakes, so you can plan or revise your story with confidence and clarity

You’ll learn how to actually build stakes that evolve, escalate, and matter.

This applies whether you write features, TV, or novels. If you know stakes are important, but want a clearer framework for using them — this is for you.

($27 through November 3rd)

Until next time,

Naomi

P.S. Adding a ticking clock won’t help if no one cares what happens when time runs out. Let’s fix that. 😊