I’ll have the stakes, please. Sixteen ounce, medium rare.
Okay, that was a bad pun. But as much as my carnivorous appetites do appreciate a thick, juicy filet mignon, what I want in a fancy dinner isn’t too far off from what I want to see in a book pitch—thick, juicy stakes.
What are the stakes of a story? Well, they’re the only reason your reader cares about what you write. That might sound a little harsh, but think about it this way:
You are competing with literally everything else—books, Netflix, squalling toddlers—for your readers’ attention. You are never entitled to it.
A slightly less couth way to ask, “What are the stakes?” might be, “Why should I care?”
When stakes are underdone…
Not everyone appreciates their stakes tartare. If you want your reader to pay attention to your writing, you need to give them a reason to care about what you have to say.
Readers read for three reasons: entertainment, persuasion, and information. Whether you’re writing a lighthearted romcom or a Facebook message, think about the pain point you’re solving for your audience.
Are you answering a question?
Guiding them to a grand epiphany?
Giving them a good, hearty yuck?
Don’t be afraid to come out and tell your audience why they should listen to you. Your aim is to make their lives better. If you’ve got the solution to staying motivated, keeping a four-hour workday, or raising happy, healthy eaters, let your audience know.
…or overdone.
We want savory stakes, not crispy ones. Be clear, but also be relatable. What does your audience’s lives look like with you? What do they look like without you?
You can spend countless hours of agony rewriting your novel seven plus times…or you can use this easy outlining method to make sure you define your narrative arcs correctly from the get-go.
Even a vegetarian audience can appreciate some nice, juicy stakes. They’ve taken the time to stumble across your message. Let them know why they should stay, why your content is right where they need to be.
You don’t have to shy away from the authenticity and value of your message. Let your audience know how their lives will change as you guide them through the solution to their pain point—then let them know what life will continue to look like as they struggle without you.
Don’t be bland. Don’t be noodly. Treat your audience to a strong main course. Let’s get those stakes SIZZLIN.
Bon appétit!
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Photo credit to Tim Toomey