Comments on: Plot Devices: Love at First Sight

By: forrestdl@gmail.com

forrestdl@gmail.com — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 04:41:27 +0000

In reply to Teresa Cypher (@Teresa_Cypher).

I totally agree. I feel like “love at first sight” is a category of deus ex machina (again, exempting situations where the building of the world allowed for it).

I think the only situations where deus ex machina are acceptable are in comedies, parodies. You know, things like Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy or pretty much all the Mel Brooks movies. Something that crazy, it’s almost expected, and can have sizable comedic advantages. Any other time, it’s just laziness.

By: Teresa Cypher (@Teresa_Cypher)

Teresa Cypher (@Teresa_Cypher) — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 04:23:05 +0000

My pet peeve leans more toward deus ex machina. A couple of months ago, i read a book by a new author. It was really good, (other than some non-native English language issues) lots of action, but about 3/4 of the way through this 500+ page book, the author threw in a deus ex machina. Then, a couple more times before the end of the book. I think it is a result of lack of planning coupled with unwillingness to go back into the ms and set up the scene right. 🙂 Good post 🙂

By: forrestdl@gmail.com

forrestdl@gmail.com — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 00:33:22 +0000

In reply to kelworthfiles. Oh, I love the enemies first kind. All that tension and animosity. Also makes for great love scenes. ;-)

By: kelworthfiles

kelworthfiles — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 23:58:51 +0000

Yeah, I don’t think that’s very interesting. I prefer the ‘friends first’ or ‘enemies first’ kind of love stories. 🙂

By: forrestdl@gmail.com

forrestdl@gmail.com — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 20:16:47 +0000

In reply to Pat Harris. Well, of course, that's rather different than love at first sight, but it still presents a dilemma. I think the key in that type of situation would be asking yourself what obstacle held them back in the past which is missing now to make the love story progress so suddenly?

By: Pat Harris

Pat Harris — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 10:49:21 +0000

I appreciate your comments here. I’m working on a love story for New Hope 2 where the characters have a history, but the reader learns about the details of their history primarily through their thoughts, some of which come in retrospect, and in that aspect their love story happens rather suddenly. It’s challenge making it believable while at the same time involving the readers in their lives.

Thanks for an insightful post.