Writing Excuses 21.17: The Up and Down Escalators
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Apr 26, 2026 They unpack how raising and lowering stakes shapes a story’s structure and pacing. They explore risks of escalating too fast and ways de-escalation can be used deliberately through humor, distraction, or shifting focus. They cover avoiding pointless up-and-down dips, seeding new questions during downshifts, and mapping beats to ensure every shift advances stakes or deepens character.
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Make Stakes Personal And Specific
- Escalate stakes by connecting them to something personal so readers care beyond surface consequences.
- Example: change “lose beauty contest” to “can't afford grandmother's medication” to make stakes meaningful and immediate.
Use Humor Or Distraction To De-escalate
- De-escalate scenes with humor, reality checks, or distraction to pull characters (and readers) back from runaway tension.
- Use a character to issue a reality check or change focus, like telling a rowdy friend a different story or offering water.
Slap To Stop A Bar Fight Example
- Howard Tayler described stopping a street fight by escalating with one person and de-escalating with another.
- He slapped his friend and told him to stop, redirecting energy and ending the fight immediately.