Over the past two years I’ve read quite a few young adult books and I just finished the last one in the Shadow Falls series by C.C. Hunter. No, I’m nowhere near being a “young” adult. Yes, I was sometimes embarrassed to admit what I was reading and yes, I thoroughly enjoyed reading them! I’m calling it “research” since right now I think my WIP might fall into this genre.
And I think I can actually get away with calling it research, because aside from loving this series, in particular, with its supernatural species, their awesome powers, the classic love triangle and teenage girls with attitudes, I actually learned something!
Raising the Stakes
Okay, I know I mentioned supernaturals but I don’t mean that kind of stake.
The Shadow Falls series helped me understand what it means to raise the stakes in a story, where things get increasingly worse for your character(s) before they can get better.
From the beginning of the first book, things started going wrong for the main character (MC), Kylie Galen, when she found out her parents were getting divorced and her world was being turned upside-down. Oh, she had no clue how her world would crumble! From not fitting in with her high school peers, to discovering she was some sort of supernatural, to finding out she didn’t quite fit in with her supernatural peers either, dealing with two love interests, learning about her new powers and ultimately having to face the classic evil antagonist — things continually got worse for her. There were times as I read the last book where I thought to myself,
Come on, can’t she catch a break?
She couldn’t! Each turn of the page brought more obstacles and complications for the MC. I began to see how the author incrementally raised the stakes chapter after chapter, until at last the pieces came together for the MC and she was able to take action to make things better.
So now what?
Image source: http://shakeoffthegrind.com
Now I realize that my WIP and my MC don’t have enough at stake. I’ve been thinking about what else can go wrong and have jotted down some ideas in my journal. I need to raise the stakes, in hopes that readers will become emotionally connected to the MC, root for her, want her to take the steps she needs to in order to grow, succeed, and make things better.
I’m beginning to understand why it takes so long to write a novel. Last year when I started this, I was so naive (Ha ha ha – that’s me laughing at myself). The good news is that I’ve learned a lot about this process and I’m trying to incorporate what I’m learning. The not-so-good news is that I still have a lot to learn.
Back to work on my WIP for me!
Writing Pieces of Me 
It’s true. We have to make bad things happen to our characters, even if it pains us. Sigh. 🙂
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Yeah, I think I’ve been way too kind. That’s going to have to change *evil laugh* 🙂
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Very intriguing point! I have a tendency to go easy on my characters, because I like them — I think I might need to, as you suggest, raise the stakes 😀 Good luck on your own stakes-raising adventure!
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Thanks Michelle. But based on what I’ve seen your blog, you are way ahead of me with your published book “Imminent Danger.” I’ve just added it to my To Read list. Good luck with it!!! 🙂
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Awesome! And thanks 🙂
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Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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It took a lot for me to understand what raising the stakes meant, too. At first, I thought it just meant making the problem worse “once”, not incrementally. It was my big “ah-ha” moment. 🙂 Good luck on your continued stake-raising.
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Thanks Kate, I can use the luck. 🙂 Seems like when I’ve gotten through another read-through and made fixes, edits and re-writes on the WIP, I realize there’s something else I missed or need to pay closer attention to. I know it’s all part of the process and experience and I’m getting learning and improving. Not sure if/when I’ll ever be “done” with it but at least the story is getting better each time.
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I love YA adults, so don’t think it’s weird at all for you to read them (especially if you’re writing in that genre). It’s so hard to be mean to our characters we love, but it sure reels you in as a reader when that happens. And I agree about being naive when you went into the writing process. i thought it would be sooo easy to write a book. And the more I write, the more I learn and the harder it seems to get (because my expectations for my books advance as my knowledge does).
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Yes that’s it Char, the more you learn the more you realize there is to learn and our expectations for ourself rises. It’s all worth it in the end, if we can write that great novel! I’ve realized that it’s going to take a lot more time and hard work than I initially thought, but I’m willing to do it! Learning and growing is fun and I’ve never taking my writing more seriously, so it’s back to the drawing board for me. 🙂
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This is still a major stumbling point for me. Because I’m the rare reader who gets put off by so many things continually happening to the main characters, be it in print or movies/TV. And unless I can overcome this, my writing will be for an audience of one.
I’m glad that you are overcoming this problem! The road to a finished novel is long, but the sooner we can recognize our shortcomings and weaknesses, the better our chances for success. I think you’re well on you way along that road!
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Recognizing? Yes. Overcoming? Well, I’d say like I’m trying 🙂
I agree, JM, some books and especially movies can go waaaay overboard where I’m thinking, “oh yeah, right” with every new twist and turn. But those that know where the fine line is and can pull it off can be brillant. I don’t think I’m anywhere near knowing where the line is, but I do realize I’m way under it. Thanks for your vote of confidence! I really appreciate it! 🙂
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I always wondered why people would take a whole year off from their ‘real jobs’ to write a book. Ah, yes, I’m beginning to understand! (and envy them for the luxury!)
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Denise that would be a luxury, huh? I’m not sure 1 year would be enough for me to actually finish a novel, though I’d be willing to give it a shot 🙂
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Arlene – Great job on setting forth the review and I for one would say reading and analysing the title qualifies for research in the arena you are writing. It’s magnificient the novel gave you the insight you needed to recognize you needed to up the stakes for your character. It makes me angry when I have to back up some but it always makes for stronger writing in the end.
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Thank you Sheri.
I don’t get angry or too upset, it’s more like when I used to run the mile in track. After about the second lap, I started wishing I was done and when I got to the end of the third lap and I realized I had one more to go that I felt like it was endless and I wouldn’t make it. This WIP is starting to feel a little like that. So many more laps to go before I cross the finish line. Thing is … for the first time in my writing my eyes are set on the finish line. I don’t know how long it will take for me to cross it, but I’m going to keep running (and writing) until I do. 🙂
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Arlene, love how you gave us a review and a writing insight all in one post. 🙂 It took me a few years to complete and polish each of my manuscripts. It’s so annoying how writing works. In 6-8 months your writing will leap a level and then you’ve got to go back and rewrite everything up to your new skill level. 😉
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Hi Kourtney, I hope you’re right when you say “your writing will leap a level.” The rewriting and editing is taking much more time than I expected but I’ve also realized my initial expectations where a bit naive. I’ve got to stick with it, continue to learn and improve along the way and hopefully it will pay off in the end. Thanks so much for stopping by, especially after your busy and exciting day! 🙂 You’re proof that it can happen 🙂
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