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- S-T-A-K-E-S: The ticking time bomb that makes your story unforgettable.
S-T-A-K-E-S: The ticking time bomb that makes your story unforgettable.
Big stakes come from small, relatable moments.
“Do you see anything?”
I lean out the window. “No, but I can feel it.”
The air is heavy. My wife stacks mattresses and pillows around our boys in the hallway. The trees freeze. The world holds its breath.
“It’s coming!” I turn from the window and run to the hallway.
The walls tremble as the roar of a freight train consumes the house.
Welcome to Christian Story Lab.
You’re here! You made.
TODAY, we’re talking about stakes.
No, not the butter-dripping steak your dad always orders at Outback.
I’m talkin’ S-T-A-K-E-S.
The ticking time bomb that makes any story, any email, any sermon good. If you don’t make the stakes high enough, or important enough, or compelling enough…you lose.
So sharpen your knives, and let’s rip into it.
When I start talking about raising the stakes, the rebuttal goes, “I don’t have interesting stories.”
It’s true—I’ve got a handful of wild ones.
Like the time I was almost kidnapped in Egypt…
...or seeing my mom through the glass of a prison cell.
...or hiding Pokémon games in my stuffed animals from my evil stepmother.
...or nearly burning my entire house to the ground.
These stories have obvious stakes. They are fun stories.
BUT (and that’s a big but) over 15 years of public speaking and writing, I’ve learned that stakes can be raised in any story.
In fact, the most ordinary stories are often my most popular ones.
...the first time my son asked me about heaven.
...when I drank corn oil instead of apple juice in a first-time-dad sleepy stupor.
...my one-eyed dog named Ricky.
These stories are so…normal.
And the reason they land is because stakes are not about intensity but relatability.
The bottom line is that you don’t need a shark biting your leg off to have a good story.
Your best stories are the ones people hear and think, “Oh, I’ve been there,” or, “Hmm, I wonder what I’d do in that situation.”
The best stories are relatable. Things that could happen around the dinner table.
Stakes keep readers engaged because they reflect real life.
Life is about balancing risks, facing consequences, and dealing with the fallout of bad choices.
We see this all the time in stories where the stakes are raised from the simplest, most ordinary moments.
(Akeelah and the Bee, 2006): It’s a movie about a spelling bee. But also about determination, hard work, and proving yourself.
(Wonder, 2017): When Auggie Pullman starts school for the first time, the stakes aren’t about danger. They’re about fitting in, making friends, and the universal fear of being judged.
(Pride and Prejudice): When Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth Bennet, it’s not life-or-death. It’s societal expectations. Personal dignity. The relatable awkwardness of saying “no” in public.
No shark bites. No car chases. No kidnappings in Egypt.
Let me leave you with three simple ways to raise the stakes in your next story or copy:
Did someone say…LISTICLE?
CRUNCH TIME: One of the easiest ways to raise the stakes is to set a time limit. If the characters only have a short amount of time to complete their goal, it’ll shape the decisions they make along the way.
BIGGEST(er) REWARDS: Maybe instead of winning a housing scholarship for college, the character needs to win a full ride. Maybe instead of beating their opponent, they have to beat them with a broken leg…oh and they're blind.
PERSONAL INVESTMENT: The more a character cares about the outcome, the higher the stakes. If I’m reading a story about a guy rescuing strangers, that’s fine. But if I’m reading about a guy rescuing his daughter ("I will find you. And I will kill you."), I’m hooked because the character’s personal investment hooks me, too.
Use the same tip if you are writing copy or a sermon or a blog or a tweet.
You have to raise the stakes if you want people to read the next sentence.
When mapping out your story, ask yourself how deep the water your character is treading is. Are they at risk of drowning, or can they just stand up and walk away?
Which one do you think sounds more interesting?
Write on 🤙
Payton
P.S. What would you love to see more of in 2025? Whether it’s a challenge you’re facing, a curiosity you want to explore, or something to help you level up your writing, reply to this email and let me know. I’ll personally read and respond to every message!
P.P.S. The opening story is true. When Hurricane Milton hit Florida, it brought an inordinate amount of tornados through our little town. Our home was skipped, but our downtown and surrounding neighborhood were hit hard.
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