Give a character something specific to lose

Separate the practical consequence of failure from what failure would mean to the character. Give the reader a sign of each before the decision arrives.

Try it

A lost job is a practical consequence. Losing the trust of an apprentice is personal. Show the apprentice relying on the character before either consequence becomes possible.

References

• Fiction writing basics · CUNY OpenLab

• Find the question a story must answer
• Build a one-page novel outline