Plot Twist!
The plot twist editorial query
From time to time, world events occur that make fiction editors look at each other and say, “We can never again tell our authors their plot events are implausible!”
And I smile along with everyone else. But of course it’s not true. “It really happened” has never been a measure of whether a particular event is plausible in a novel.
Even if an author is basing a novel on true-life events, readers still expect to see that plot events follow the laws of cause-and-effect, that significant plot twists are foreshadowed and don’t just drop out of nowhere, and that characters have goals that drive plot events.
It doesn’t matter if at the eleventh hour the author bought a winning lottery ticket and saved their house from foreclosure. Readers aren’t going to buy that happening in a novel – and they’re not going to consider it a satisfactory resolution to a novel.
A plot event has to seem true, as if it could happen, given the story world, the characters, and the theme.
There is life and then there is story. They are two different things. We want story to reflect or illuminate life in some way but story does not and should not imitate life, or we would all wander off by page thirty to find something good to read.
So, rest assured: no matter what happens in the world, you haven’t written your last editorial query suggesting the author rethink the plausibilty of a plot event!
Other Helpful Content
-
How to Beta Read and Critique
Two ways newer editors get experience with developmental editing/story editing is through beta reading and critique partnering. Beta reading is giving a basic reader reaction to someone’s manuscript. Critique partners are writers who trade their manuscripts and give each other feedback. Basic Rules for Beta Reading and Critiquing 1. All feedback should be constructive and…
-
Helping Clients Understand the Differences Between Beta Reading and Developmental Editing
Authors often use beta readers to give them feedback on their work and I think this can be a great way for them to get a sense of a reader’s experience of the novel. But unpaid beta readers often flake out and never provide feedback. This is the number one complaint I hear from authors…
-
Your Real Skills Are Never Outdated
Once upon a time, ten key by touch was one of the most sought-after skills I possessed. For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, it’s basically being able to quickly enter numerical data into a computer. I’m sure there are still jobs where it’s a helpful skill to have, but…
