Write Your Screenplay Podcast 5 Steps To Raise The Stakes In Your Screenplay
Jan 16, 2026
Discover how raising stakes in a screenplay is rooted in empathy rather than just action-filled plots. Explore the importance of knowing what your character truly wants and how to express that desire through visible actions. Learn to make challenges more daunting by escalating obstacles that force your character to struggle. Delve into the nuances of differentiating plot events from deeper emotional stakes that resonate with the audience. This engaging discussion invites writers to connect character aspirations with emotional needs for heightened impact.
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Stakes Start With Empathy
- Stakes begin with empathy, not spectacle or plot events.
- We feel stakes when we connect to a character and imagine being in their shoes.
Start With A Clear Want
- Know specifically what your character wants before anything else.
- If you don't know, pick a tangible want and proceed; the fact they want something matters most.
Staple Remover Example
- Jacob uses a staple remover to show stakes can grow from anything.
- The object itself doesn't matter; the character's struggle for it builds empathy.