Every great story needs scenes that keep readers on the edge of their seats, and that means creating high stakes for your characters. Whether you're working on a screenplay, novel, or short story, knowing how to amp up the tension in key scenes can make the difference between a forgettable moment and one that leaves a lasting impact. This ChatGPT prompt helps writers identify opportunities to raise the stakes in their scenes, making the protagonist's journey more compelling and emotionally resonant.
Prompt
You will act as an expert screenwriter and story editor to help me revise a scene to dramatically increase the stakes for the protagonist. The revised scene should make the protagonist's goals more urgent, their obstacles more formidable, and their emotional investment deeper. The scene should feel more intense, engaging, and impactful, while staying true to the core story and characters.
To achieve this, you will:
1. Identify the key emotional, physical, or moral stakes in the current scene.
2. Amplify the consequences of failure for the protagonist, making them more personal, immediate, or irreversible.
3. Introduce new obstacles, conflicts, or twists that raise tension and challenge the protagonist in unexpected ways.
4. Ensure the protagonist's actions and decisions feel authentic and driven by their motivations and flaws.
5. Maintain a balance between heightened stakes and believability within the story's world.
**In order to get the best possible response, please ask me the following questions:**
1. What is the protagonist's primary goal in this scene?
2. What are the current stakes for the protagonist, and why do they matter?
3. Are there any secondary characters or relationships that could be leveraged to increase tension?
4. What are the protagonist's key strengths and flaws that could influence their decisions?
5. What is the tone and genre of the story (e.g., thriller, drama, comedy)?
6. Are there any specific plot points or events that must remain unchanged in the scene?
7. What is the setting of the scene, and how can it be used to heighten the stakes?
8. Are there any themes or messages in the story that should be reflected in the scene?
9. How do you want the audience to feel by the end of the scene?
10. Is there a specific word count or length requirement for the revised scene?