If you ever thought you were going to write a screenplay (or if you’ve already written one), I strongly encourage you to watch this film (and/ or read the book).
Seriously.
If you ever thought you were going to write a screenplay (or if you’ve already written one), I strongly encourage you to watch this film (and/ or read the book).
Seriously.
One of the ongoing problems I see in my students’ screenwriting is that the stakes simply aren’t high enough in their scripts. What I mean is, they set up a problem that—no matter the solution—will leave the hero in the same position at the end of the script regardless of whether he wins or loses.
This is a huge problem.
In order for the script to work (and really this is true of a novel and likely short story as well) the world must change dramatically if the hero wins, but it must also change dramatically if he or she loses too. Otherwise, what’s the point of the story? And your audience/ reader will see right through it.
To ensure your stakes are high enough for your hero, consider the following points:
Setting the stakes can seem like a daunting task at the beginning of the process. But if you think about anything you’ve done in your life that you’re incredibly proud of or that was very difficult, and you’ll likely find the reason this was so was that there were clearly established stakes that made all the difference.
Film examples of setting the stakes – Big Fish (Edward will die before his son knows who he is, and before their relationship—they’ve been estranged for years—is healed), Bruce Almighty (Bruce is selfish and if he doesn’t change he won’t really understand what love is or how to treat others), Wall Street (Bud is bent on success, but if he finds it, he may lose his family and soul)… see how important this is? Your hero’s victory or defeat is the center of the story- but only because in that he/ she’s life is changing in dramatic, unbelievable ways.
So, what are the stakes for your hero?
Happy writing!
With a little tweaking to your editing process, you might find significant improvement in the outcome of your story/ novel/ screenplay or other writing.
Below are some ideas from my writing and teaching experiences, as well as thoughts from a professional editor.
What are your keys to editing success? Share them in the comments!