Free Video Tutorial for Screenwriting

What makes the stakes in a story truly matter?

In this episode of The Storyteller’s Mission, Zena Dell Lowe explains how to raise the stakes in your story without relying on gimmicks, artificial tension, or repetitive plot devices. This episode explores why high stakes are always tied to character, relationship, and consequence—and how meaningful escalation creates pressure that drives transformation.

From moral weight to relational cost to progressively harder choices, this conversation reframes how writers should think about stakes at every level of storytelling. Whether you’re working on a novel, screenplay, or short story, this episode provides a practical and timeless approach to making your story resonate more deeply with an audience.

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