7-DAY SALE! & What Are Stakes?
Exploring the Reason Characters Breathe!
Welcome to the Apple Hair CANON!
I’m super excited to announce Apple Hair’s first sale! If you’ve been eyeing it, now’s the time to get it! The e-book version is now starting at $0.99 and will increase every few days until it’s back to its normal price in 7 days!
Click the link button right below! Or click here.
Hi, storycatchers! In the last edition of the CANON, I talked about KPop Demon Hunters! That was such a fun one. Thank you for giving the post a lot of love. This week, I’m giving you my promised post about stakes. Stakes go hand in hand with GMC (goal, motivation, and conflict). I’ll give you some behind-the-scenes about how I used stakes in Apple Hair, and I will give you some insight into how stakes are used in storytelling!
I like to define stakes simply: What does your character have to lose?
So, it might seem like a bit too much to juggle GMC and then add another element to it. But I can assure you, stakes are something that will keep your story interesting and moving. I encourage you to look at the stakes in your favorite shows or books!
Even though this is a book I talk about a lot, I have to bring in The Hunger Games again. You might have already picked out the GMC of The Hunger Games, in Katniss, particularly. However, have you ever thought about the stakes? Katniss has her own life to lose. That’s probably the biggest stake involved, but she also has her family in mind—if she loses the game, she’ll lose her ability to take care of them. Later on, you’ll find out that she also has Peeta to lose. I won’t dive into the other two books in the trilogy, but these are the stakes that Katniss starts with. Note that these stakes can evolve over the course of a series.
Quick question for you: What is your favorite kind of stake? First, we can think about the kinds of stakes we recognize. We have the survival kind where someone is fighting for their life, just like with Katniss. But we also have the romance stake, whether a character will lose their lover to someone else. And then we have stakes many times found in fantasy, such as the fate of the empire or even the world.
When a character has something to lose, that will make them act. It turns them into characters that want to make the first move, to exercise their agency.
I can’t imagine writing Apple Hair without the use of stakes. Of course, each of the five members has their own stakes, what they carry with them for fighting for their debut as singers. But I’ll dive into David Cho’s stakes. If he leaves AWE Entertainment or fails to debut, he will have to return to his old home and old life—a place where he felt stifled by his toxic parents. With these stakes in mind, David desperately wants to debut so that he can carve a new life for himself.
What are your thoughts about stakes? I know that some of you might not be writing novels, but I’m so overjoyed that you’re willing to explore storytelling with me. I think that everyone can use these storytelling tips and tricks in their daily life. Whether you’re writing a nonfiction post, watching a movie on your phone, or even wanting to think about why you love your favorite manga and shows so much.
Next week, I’m planning on diving into concept. What makes a good concept? What makes a good concept into a great one? Or even into a bestselling one?
Thank you very much for joining the CANON this week. My suggestion is to read up on stakes even more, or maybe watch a few YouTube videos on the topic. Maybe you can find the stakes in your favorite stories this week. Anyway, what would you like me to discuss in future posts? Comment below. Or jump into my Chat or on one of my Notes, and I’ll be happy to hear your input. Let’s continue learning about storytelling!
Again, a reminder that Apple Hair is now on sale! That’s the reason this CANON is coming to you on a Thursday. We’ll be back to our Sunday posts in just a little bit! Happy July! ❤️