Plot MechanicsFoundational
Escalation
The increase of pressure, cost, danger, intimacy, or consequence.
Principle
Escalation is change in pressure, not just more events.
Takeaways
- It can move inward as well as outward.
- Escalation should alter available choices.
- Without escalation, pacing feels flat even when events are busy.
Overview
Escalation is the rising intensity of a narrative problem. It may increase physical risk, emotional exposure, social cost, moral compromise, or informational urgency.
Examples
- A private lie becomes a public accusation.
- A small theft forces an alliance with the person most likely to expose it.