Gauging the Problem of Your Plot: A Writer's Guide to Raising the Stakes
If you've ever hit a wall in your story and thought, "Something's not working, but I can't figure out what," chances are the issue lies with the central problem of your plot. Whether you're writing a novel, a screenplay, or even a short story, the core problem is the engine that drives everything forward. So how do you know if that engine is powerful enough to carry your story?
Let’s break it down.
What Is “The Problem” of a Plot?
Every compelling story revolves around a problem—something that disrupts the protagonist's world and demands action. It can be external (a monster, a murder, a war), internal (a fear, a flaw, a secret), or both. The problem defines the stakes, drives conflict, and gives your protagonist a goal.
Without a strong problem, your plot will lack urgency, your characters will meander, and readers will lose interest.
Signs Your Plot’s Problem Isn’t Working
Your characters seem to drift.
If your characters aren’t actively trying to solve something or are reacting passively, the problem may not be clear or compelling enough.
There’s no escalation.
A good plot problem gets worse over time. If everything feels flat after the inciting incident, the stakes might not be rising—or weren’t high enough to begin with.
The conflict feels convenient or forced.
If the obstacles your characters face don’t feel logically tied to the problem, the story can feel contrived.
Your ending feels disconnected.
If your climax solves a different issue than what was established early on, you might’ve lost sight of the true core problem.
How to Gauge and Strengthen the Problem
1. Define the Problem in One Sentence
If you can’t sum it up clearly, it might be too vague. Try this fill-in-the-blank:
“The story is about [Protagonist] trying to [achieve goal] while facing [central problem].”
Example: The story is about a young lawyer trying to win a custody case while battling the return of her estranged and manipulative father.
2. Ask: Who Cares?
Is this problem urgent and meaningful? Who stands to lose something if it's not solved? A strong problem affects not only the protagonist but others around them—and ideally, ties into a larger theme or social issue.
3. Check the Stakes
What’s the cost of failure? Make sure it’s not just personal inconvenience but something that could deeply affect the character's emotional world, relationships, or future.
Low stakes = low engagement.
4. Layer the Conflict
Great stories have a central problem supported by smaller, interconnected conflicts. If your main problem is a heist, maybe there’s tension within the team. If it’s about a family reunion, perhaps there’s an old grudge under the surface. Multiple layers create richness and resonance.
5. Track the Escalation
Plot your story points and see if the problem is truly evolving. Are new complications arising? Is the character forced to make increasingly difficult choices? If not, your story might be stuck in a holding pattern.
Final Thought: Make It Personal
The best plot problems aren’t just things that happen—they’re things that challenge who the character is. Make sure your story’s central problem isn’t just big, but deeply personal to the protagonist. That’s how you create emotional investment—and keep readers turning pages.
Want to test your plot?
Try describing your story’s problem to a friend in one breath. If they ask, “So what?”, you’ve got work to do.
But that’s the beauty of storytelling: every problem is a chance to dig deeper, raise the stakes, and bring your characters to life.
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