Special Resources

Looking to improve your craft? Check out these additional offerings.

PODCAST

An essential podcast for artists and storytellers about changing the world for the better through story. New episodes available each Thursday on YouTube or the podcast app of your choice.

TUTORIAL

Ever wanted to be a screenwriter but don't have a clue how to succeed? Learn the secret to getting your script past the gatekeepers and into the hands of actual decision-makers in this FREE video tutorial.

BLOG

Zena Dell Lowe's articles are regularly featured on award-winning blog sites such as, "The Write Conversation." Find all of her articles in one, easy-to-navigate place, and transform your writing today.

CONSULTATION

Got questions? Need help on your project? Schedule a FREE 30-minute strategy session with Zena Dell Lowe to get personalized feedback about what steps you should take next.

The Storyteller's Mission Blog

Your one stop shop for writing resources, articles, and tips from Zena Dell Lowe.

COMING SOON!

Thank you for your patience.

We are in the process of migrating our platform over from Kajabi to Go High Level. As you can imagine, this process takes time, especially when you have four year's worth of articles to transfer over. We are working hard to get everything moved as quickly as possible. In the meantime, sign up for our monthly digest email to get new writing tips from Zena FREE each month.

S5_E29. How to Raise the Stakes in Your Story (Without Gimmicks)

Season 5

January 08, 2026•1 min read

Custom HTML/CSS/JAVASCRIPT

Raising the stakes is essential to compelling storytelling—but true stakes go far beyond external danger or time pressure.

In this episode of The Storyteller’s Mission, Zena Dell Lowe breaks down how meaningful stakes are created through character desire, moral significance, and relational consequence. This episode explores how stakes escalate organically when choices become harder, costs increase, and relationships are put at risk.

Writers will gain insight into how stakes function at both the macro story level and the scene level, and why the most powerful stories always tie tension back to what can be lost emotionally, relationally, or existentially.

Seven Deadly Plot Points FREE TRAINING VIDEO!

Free Video Tutorial for Screenwriting

Sign up for The Storyteller's Digest, my exclusive bi-monthly newsletter for writers and storytellers. Each edition delivers an insightful article or practical writing tip straight from me, designed to help you master your craft and tell compelling stories.

The Storyteller's Mission Podcast is now on YouTube. You can watch your favorite podcast as well as listen. Subscribe to our channel and never miss a new episode or announcement.

Watch this episode on YouTube:

how to raise the stakes in a storyraising stakes in storytellingstory stakes and consequencescharacter driven stakeshow to create tension in fictionstorytelling stakes explainedemotional stakes in writingescalating conflict in a storywriting compelling stakesstory structure and stakes

Zena Dell Lowe

Back to Blog