What is a plot contrivance?

What is a plot contrivance?

A plot contrivance is when you dismantle core concepts and rework them JUST to have one scene or JUST to have a political agenda, with no logic or reason beyond that.

What are levels of contrivance?

All rights reserved. Use “contrivance” in a sentence. “When the level of narrative contrivance is such that anything can happen or be forgotten in the space of a week, then nothing matters.” “The contrivance is seen to hold a function, and it is recognized by its inherent design.”

Is whatsit a word?

Whatsit is a very informal word for an object whose name you don’t know, have forgotten, or can’t recall at the moment. It’s not commonly used to refer to people (terms used for this purpose include what’s-her-name, what’s-his-name, and what’s-their-name).

Is contrived bad?

Contrived plots not only stretch plausibility, they hurt an author’s credibility with readers. They trust us to tell them a solid tale, and they lose that faith if we cheat by forcing events to unfold and benefit our protagonists so they win with no effort. The vital skill wasn’t in the story until it was needed.

What is a plot device in literature?

A plot device is a storytelling tool or technique that is used to propel a narrative. A well-written plot device can be deeply satisfying to a reader or audience member. On the other hand, a clumsy plot device—such as a truly random plot twist—is a sign of bad writing.

What is a pitfall of using a contrivance in your story?

What is a pitfall of using a contrivance in your story? It feels unnatural and inappropriate. Imagine you are reading a story about a character named Lula.

What does machination mean in English?

1 : an act of machinating. 2 : a scheming or crafty action or artful design intended to accomplish some usually evil end backstage machinations …

What is a whatsit in England?

The brand name in the singular (“Wotsit”) refers to an individual corn puff. It is an allusion to the slang term “whatsit”, a placeholder name, to which it is phonetically identical in British speech.

What is contrived writing?

But what does “contrived” mean? When someone is talking about a story being contrived, it usually means that it feels forced. In other words, the author got lazy and rushed. Yep, that’s you, Rubinsteen!

How do you write a believable story?

How to make a story believable when you’re writing fiction

1. Motivation: give your characters reasons for acting the way they do.
2. Track your characters’ emotions: be clear on when and why they change.
3. Keep it simple: prune your plot so that your readers understand what’s happening, and why.

How does an author use artifacts in literature?

Explanation: An artifact is an object created or made by people, for example : a gadget, a historical or cultural objects. A literary artifact is used by the writer as a symbol that represents another idea and provides the reader with a context. When using artifacts the writer develops the plot and the characters.

Which is the best definition of the word contrivance?

con·​triv·​ance | kən-ˈtrī-vən(t)s . 1a : a thing contrived especially : a mechanical device modern contrivances to cook food faster. b : an artificial arrangement or development Mistaken identity is used as a plot contrivance in the story.

What’s the difference between plot convenience and plot contrivance?

Plot convenience and plot contrivance are not synonymous. They do, however, tend to be mutually exclusive. So your all powerful character happens to have that one in a million power necessary to save the day, this is plot convenience. That power happens to be magic, this is plot contrivance.

When does narrative itself seem like an untrustworthy contrivance?

— Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 June 2021 With the ascendance of modernism, narrative itself started to seem like an untrustworthy contrivance. — Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 9 Nov. 2020 But the loss of greater context feels worrisomely like an in medias res contrivance, a way to ramp up the energy level before the story leisurely unfolds.