381. How High Stakes Settings Can Create High Stakes Situations, with Emily Listfield

381. How High Stakes Settings Can Create High Stakes Situations, with Emily Listfield

From Writing and Editing by Jennia D'Lima

April 30, 2026 · 30 min · Episode 381

About this episode

Emily Listfield discusses the cultural obsession with elite private schools and how they can create high stakes situations in storytelling.

Send us Fan Mail Author and editor Emily Listfield discusses the cultural obsession with elite private schools, why this is the perfect setting to build tension or expose secrets, and what can set your characters apart from the traditional private school archetypes. ▬ Swing by Emily's website and get your hands on a copy of Reasons to Lie: https://www.emilylistfield.com/ Learn more about Emily on her socials: https://www.instagram.com/emilylistfield/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-listfi...

People in this episode

Host: Jennia D'Lima

Guest: Emily Listfield

Topics covered

  • high stakes settings
  • elite private schools
  • tension building
  • character development
  • cultural obsession

Keywords

  • high stakes
  • private schools
  • tension
  • secrets
  • character archetypes

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Reasons to Lie, Instagram, LinkedIn

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