To “raise the stakes” means whatever happens (at the Midpoint or anywhere else) threatens or escalates what’s at stake in the story. Doing so has the effect of making the achievement of the goal more meaningful to the protagonist.

Raising the stakes can manifest in many ways, including:

• If stakes go from impersonal to personal.
• If there’s a new or greater threat to the previously established stakes.
• If what’s at stake intensifies, multiplies, or escalates.

By the middle of Act Two (where the Midpoint occurs) the story probably needs a little more fuel on the fire. So raising the stakes – a.k.a. putting the squeeze on the protagonist by making this whole adventure more meaningful and important to him or her – adds that fuel to the audience’s engagement in the story.

When we know the story means more to the protagonist, we care more about the outcome.

Use this simple chart to create a good story, fast