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/lit/ - Literature

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3129110 No.3129110[DELETED]  [Reply] [Original]

Is it kosher to introduce an element to a story that the reader would just have to accept in order for the plot to make sense?
Say I want a character to undergo a particular personal issue and I want it to be done through a particular means. Would it be acceptable to simply include the means as a given to allow the character to develop?

Pic basically unrelated.

>> No.3129155
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3129155

That's how plots work.

Depends how well you write, and why you're doing the thing you do. Take David Lynch's Blue Velvet, for instance. If most directors tried to have a character get shot, just stand there, and then not address it at all, people probably would dislike the movie. But Lynch does it well, and it almost feels - for lack of a better word - natural or necessary.

Sorry, OP. That's the best I could do with what you've given me to work with.

>> No.3129174

>>3129155
I realize now that I may well have described a plot device.

In my case in particular, it'd be a certain technology that causes this character anguish. However, I wouldn't want to bog down the story with the 'hows' and 'wherefores' of the character attaining such technology. But at the same time, I'd feel cheap just to write it off as if he were some Bruce Wayne rich kid or generic mad scientist.

>> No.3129180

>>3129110
What kind of means are we talking about here?

>> No.3129189
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3129189

>>3129174
Give enough information for it to feel real and make sense, and not enough as to get side-tracked and uninteresting.

Writing's hard, man.

>> No.3129209

>>3129180
See >>3129174

>>3129189
Right!? I need to ponder on this yet. I suppose what I originally thought could be a stand-alone novel tie-in to another of mine could be summarized in a short story.

>> No.3129297

Anyone else have any thoughts on how to tackle this?

>> No.3129960

I like this question. I feel I am a strong yes, but I'd like to see this discussed as I havn't considered this.

>> No.3130007

I think it's fine to force the reader to take it for granted, especially if you can make it seem natural that this is the way things are. It's OK if it causes problems, it's the worst thing you can do if it solves problems.

Although, I'm not really sure I understand what you're talking about.

>> No.3130048

>>3130007
nor to you are

>> No.3132498

Goingta go ahead and bump this.

>> No.3133281

>>3132498
Maybe during the day is a better time.