In literary fiction, story stakes can be about relationships. Take 'Pride and Prejudice'. The stakes for Elizabeth Bennet include finding true love and also dealing with her own pride and prejudices. Her future happiness and the social standing of her family are at stake in the choices she makes regarding Mr. Darcy.
Often, the story stakes are related to a character's struggle against society. In '1984', Winston's stake is his very humanity. In a totalitarian society, he risks everything by trying to hold on to his individuality, freedom of thought, and his relationship with Julia. His fight against the oppressive regime is a high - stakes battle for his own existence as a free - thinking individual.
The stakes in literary fiction often involve the characters' moral and emotional well - being. For example, in 'To Kill a Mockingbird', the stakes are high for Atticus Finch as he defends an innocent black man in a racially prejudiced society. His reputation, his family's safety, and his own sense of justice are all at stake.
Story stakes add depth to characters. When characters have something important at stake, like their reputation in a small town in a Faulkner novel, we understand them better. We see their values and how far they'll go to protect or achieve what's at stake. It also helps in developing the plot as the characters' actions to meet or avoid the stakes drive the story forward.
The stakes drive the plot forward. High stakes create tension. For instance, if a character's life is in danger in a literary work, it forces the character to take action, which in turn moves the story along.
You can create stakes by putting the characters in situations where they have a lot to lose. Maybe it's their life, their relationships, or something they deeply care about.
The stakes or consequences in fiction are crucial. They could be a character's life, a major goal, or the fate of a whole community. These elements make us care about what happens and keep us turning the pages.
You can raise the stakes by introducing time limits or unexpected obstacles. Maybe the hero has only a short time to achieve their goal, or a new enemy shows up that makes the situation much harder.
High stakes can also be the survival of a character or a group. Take 'A Song of Ice and Fire' as an example. The Starks are constantly in danger of being wiped out. Their family's honor, lives, and the future of their house are all at stake, which drives the complex and thrilling plot.
The top stories in the Belmont Stakes often include the winning horse and jockey. For example, a Cinderella - like story of an underdog horse winning against all odds can be a top story. Also, any records broken during the race, like the fastest time in the Belmont Stakes history, are major news.
The stakes in a novel are basically what's at risk for the characters. They make the story exciting. If there's nothing to lose or gain, the story can be boring.
You can introduce higher consequences for the characters' actions or raise the level of difficulty they face. Maybe have a time limit or a more powerful antagonist.