Stakes, And I Don't Mean the Vampire Kind
Finally I got to see this movie I've been wanting to see for months. The previews rocked and I'm happy to say that I loved the movie too. :-)
As I was watching it in the theater (yay!), I was processing the format of the storytelling, the characters, the dialogue, even how the director used the setting and visuals to create mood.
I immediately connected to the heroine because she was a little girl imprisoned by a wicked queen. I rooted for her to be free and cheered (inwardly, of course) when she escaped.
Then came my AHA moment.
A hero is tracked down, a guy who can follow the heroine into dark places and bring her back. I didn't want him to. I wondered why he would.
Then the evil queen offers him something that made my breath clench and immediately hooked me into the story.
You see, the hero is found drunk and careless. He's a widower who lost his way when his beloved wife was murdered.
The wicked queen sees his loneliness...his pain. She has evil powers and offers to bring his wife back from the dead if he'll find the heroine.
HIGH Stakes.
He has everything to gain if he does this thing. Who couldn't relate to missing someone so badly you'd do almost anything to get them back? Who couldn't empathize with the hero's pain?
And that was when I was hooked for good. The conflict was set. I wanted the heroine free, but I also wanted this hero to get his wife back.
I'm torn...and I'm perched on the edge of my seat to see what will happen next.
This is what having high stakes in your story can do. It creates believable and seemingly insurmountable conflict that will cause the reader to flip pages. Not only that, but high stakes create empathy.
I haven't done a whole lot of high stakes writing in my books so far. I'm still learning and will definitely be incorporating this into my future works.
If you're a writer, what kind of stakes is your protagonist facing? How can you heighten them? Readers, do you know what movie I'm referencing? *grin* If you've seen it, who did you root for and why?
As I was watching it in the theater (yay!), I was processing the format of the storytelling, the characters, the dialogue, even how the director used the setting and visuals to create mood.
I immediately connected to the heroine because she was a little girl imprisoned by a wicked queen. I rooted for her to be free and cheered (inwardly, of course) when she escaped.
Then came my AHA moment.
A hero is tracked down, a guy who can follow the heroine into dark places and bring her back. I didn't want him to. I wondered why he would.
Then the evil queen offers him something that made my breath clench and immediately hooked me into the story.
You see, the hero is found drunk and careless. He's a widower who lost his way when his beloved wife was murdered.
The wicked queen sees his loneliness...his pain. She has evil powers and offers to bring his wife back from the dead if he'll find the heroine.
HIGH Stakes.
He has everything to gain if he does this thing. Who couldn't relate to missing someone so badly you'd do almost anything to get them back? Who couldn't empathize with the hero's pain?
And that was when I was hooked for good. The conflict was set. I wanted the heroine free, but I also wanted this hero to get his wife back.
I'm torn...and I'm perched on the edge of my seat to see what will happen next.
This is what having high stakes in your story can do. It creates believable and seemingly insurmountable conflict that will cause the reader to flip pages. Not only that, but high stakes create empathy.
I haven't done a whole lot of high stakes writing in my books so far. I'm still learning and will definitely be incorporating this into my future works.
If you're a writer, what kind of stakes is your protagonist facing? How can you heighten them? Readers, do you know what movie I'm referencing? *grin* If you've seen it, who did you root for and why?
Comments
I do a lot of high stakes writing, but writing suspense, I kinda have to! LOL
BTW, I gave you the Versatile Blogger Award on my Merry Heart Blog today. (I hope you haven't had it before.)
I'm working in stronger ones as I edit.
~ Wendy
If a book doesn't hook me early on with something I care about, it's hard for me to keep reading.
The movie is Snow White and the Huntsman. VERY good, if you like fantastical with some romance. ;-)
High stakes, I love reading books with high stakes, ticking clocks, life or death on the line. :)
I think I'm seeing that same movie next weekend. Excited!
Great thoughts here, Jessica!
I really got a kick out of your comments about analyzing the storytelling process at the theater. Writers just can't help doing this, can they?
Nowhere else are we forced to lay aside our defenses and conceits, and leave ourselves open to winning the greatest of all prizes - or experiencing a rejection that can alter our lives' whole trajectories.
VERY good idea about setting stakes. Thanks!
I'm plotting a book right now and I will now make sure I've got my Stakes set in the ground firmly.
And I don't know what this movie is ... but oh, do I want to see it!
Those are high stakes!
I've got a life or death situation in my novel. I like the idea of putting the reader in a place where they want both outcomes.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Melissa, I hope you get to see it!
Patti, that's so true. We have to come through for the reader.
Thanks Loree. :-)
Ava, you're right.I do it all the time now, but thankfully it doesn't interfere with movie enjoyment (usually).
Susan, it makes for some intense conflict!
In one book I read, I had to choose between the law and what was most surely the right way, and a down and out adorable outlaw. I can't believe I was rooting for the outlaw, but had you been there, I think you would have too.
Hi Nick!
I thought your blog looked very interesting and will be checking out more of your posts. Have a great weekend!
Anita!!! I think you're gonna love it. :-)
Nancy, yeah, it was an altered Snow White tale. If we're rooting for the outlaw, then the writer has done a super job, imo! lol
Melanie, I'm glad it was helpful. :-)