Every great story thrives on conflict. Without it, there’s no tension, no suspense, and no reason for readers to keep turning the pages. But conflict alone isn’t enough. If your stakes remain the same from start to finish, your story risks becoming predictable—worse, forgettable.
Think of your favorite movies or books – they all have moments where characters face impossible challenges. Let’s talk about how you can write the same.
Why Conflict Matters in Writing
Conflict is what drives a story forward. Without it, your characters have no reason to act, change, or struggle. Imagine a detective who solves a mystery without obstacles or a hero who defeats the villain without breaking a sweat. No challenge means no excitement.
Conflict creates tension, keeping readers engaged. It makes them worry, hope, and invest in the outcome. It shows a character’s true colors when they’re pushed to their limits.
Whether it’s a battle for survival, a moral dilemma, or a clash of ideals, every compelling story has something at stake. But keeping conflict at the same intensity for too long can cause it to lose its impact. That’s why you escalate.
Why Escalating Conflict Matters
Think of your story as a rollercoaster. If it stays at the same speed the entire ride, it’s not much of a thrill. But if it starts slow, builds momentum, and then plunges into heart-pounding drops, it becomes unforgettable.
The more your protagonist has to lose, the more compelling the story becomes. It keeps readers on edge, making them wonder what will happen next.
How to Raise the Stakes in Your Story
Here is how you can make your conflicts more compelling:
Make Consequences Personal
Your characters should have something to lose. Ask yourself: What would hurt your character the most? What outcome would be absolutely devastating?
Emotional stakes matter just as much as physical ones. If your character’s relationships, values, or sense of self are at risk, readers will feel the tension more deeply.
Remove Easy Escape Routes
Great stories force characters into tough corners. Don’t give them simple solutions. Remove their backup plans and support systems.
Imagine a character who suddenly loses their job, their apartment, and their support network – all at once. These compounding challenges create genuine tension.
Expand the Scope of Conflict
Start small, then show how individual challenges connect to bigger issues. A personal struggle can reflect larger societal problems or universal human experiences.
Expand External Threats
As your story progresses, obstacles should grow bigger and more dangerous. If your protagonist starts by facing a single enemy, introduce a more powerful opponent or a larger conflict. Scaling up external threats forces your protagonist to step up, adapt, or make difficult choices.
Limit Time and Resources
A ticking clock makes every decision more urgent. If your protagonist has unlimited time to solve a problem, the stakes feel low. But if they only have minutes before disaster strikes, every second counts.
By reducing resources, you make every choice harder. If your protagonist is used to relying on allies, separate them. If they have all the tools they need, take one away. Force them to be creative and desperate.
Create Unexpected Twists
Surprise your readers by shifting expectations. A sudden betrayal, a hidden truth, or an unexpected setback can instantly raise the stakes. Leave subtle clues so the reveal feels earned rather than random.
Push the Protagonist Beyond Their Limits
Make your protagonist face impossible choices that test their morals, beliefs, and endurance. Whether they break or succeed, readers invest in their journey. The harder the decision, the stronger the emotional payoff.
Layer Conflicts
Stack different types of obstacles—internal and external—so that they build on one another. A protagonist might be fighting a villain while also battling self-doubt and struggling with fractured relationships.
Each of these conflicts raises the stakes differently, making the story more unpredictable. Even the smallest conflicts can worsen and lead to unexpected shifts in the story.
Don’t Go Overboard
A story becomes exhausting when it is overloaded with tension but lacks focus and intent. Raising the stakes should serve the story, not just punish your characters and readers.
Instead, create a natural rhythm—build tension, release it, then escalate again. This ebb and flow keeps readers engaged while maintaining a sense of balance.
Ask yourself: Does this challenge move the story forward? Does it reveal something new about the character? If not, consider cutting or simplifying it.
Conclusion
A great story never stays in one place. It keeps evolving, pushing characters to their limits, and forcing them to grow. Readers will stay up all night, turning pages, desperate to know what happens next.
Remember, great stories aren’t about perfect characters. They’re about characters facing impossible challenges and finding their strength.
What’s the worst thing that could happen to my main character right now? Write that scene, and keep piling on the tension.
How do you raise the stakes in your stories? Share your thoughts below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- How to Build Tension and Keep Your Readers Hooked
- Elements of Suspense that Will Keep Your Readers Hooked
- How to Write Fiction from Multiple Viewpoints: Picking the Right Point of View
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
