Fictionary’s Story Elements: What if Goal Fails?

Welcome back to The Pencil’s Edge! Today, we delve into a crucial story element that keeps readers engaged: What if Goal Fails? This element establishes the stakes in a scene, ensuring that readers feel tension and investment in the outcome of the POV character’s goal.

---

Why Is This Element Important?

Having a goal is great—but what happens if the character fails to achieve it? The consequences of failure create tension, emotional investment, and plot momentum. If failure doesn’t matter, the goal isn’t strong enough, and the reader won’t care.

A few key considerations:

• If the stakes are too low, the scene will lack urgency.
• If the character always fails, they may seem hopeless.
• If the character always succeeds, they may seem unrealistic or unlikable.
• The reader should constantly wonder: Will they succeed or fail? And what happens if they don’t?

To keep your story compelling, balance both success and failure, ensuring that each scene’s goal carries meaningful weight.

---

Using This Story Element in Fictionary

In StoryCoach, the What if Goal Fails? element helps evaluate whether the stakes are clear and effective. Here’s how to use it:

1. Assess the Stakes
   • For each scene, ask: What happens if the POV character doesn’t achieve their goal?
   • If the consequence isn’t clear or compelling, mark it as weak or missing.
2. Enter the Consequences in the Story Element
   • If the stakes are clear, note the consequence in the Story Map.
   • If you struggle to find a consequence, this signals a potential issue.
3. Use the Story Map to Identify Patterns
   • Review the What if Goal Fails? element across multiple scenes.
   • Look for patterns of weak stakes or overuse of success/failure.
4. Connect to the Tension Element
   • Scenes without strong stakes often lack tension.
   • If a scene feels flat, evaluate whether the stakes can be raised.

---

When to Give Feedback on Stakes

Use the Story Map to pinpoint scenes where failure doesn’t matter or where characters succeed too easily. Here’s what to watch for:

1. No Consequences for Failure

• If failure doesn’t affect the character or plot, the stakes are too low.
• Action: Recommend increasing the stakes.

2. Weak Consequences

• If the failure is minor or doesn’t create tension, it may need revision.
• Action: Suggest making the consequence more severe or personal.

3. Overuse of Success or Failure

• If the character always wins, the story lacks suspense.
• If they always fail, the story feels stagnant.
• Action: Recommend a mix of victories and setbacks.

4. Failure Doesn’t Impact Future Scenes

• If failing a goal doesn’t create problems later, it may not be impactful enough.
• Action: Ensure failures have ripple effects.

---

Advice for Writers on Strengthening Stakes

To ensure What if Goal Fails? remains compelling, ask:

• What does the character risk losing?
• How does failure affect the story’s progression?
• Does the failure create tension or emotional depth?
• How does failure force the character to grow?

By making failure meaningful, writers keep readers invested and drive the story forward.

---

Final Thoughts

Mastering What if Goal Fails? ensures high stakes, strong tension, and emotional investment. By clarifying the risks of failure, writers create stories that keep readers hooked.

Stay tuned for our next post, where we’ll explore the next Fictionary Story Element: Scene Impact on POV Character. Until then, happy writing!