How do you determine if a plot device is too coincidental?

Question

I see lazy plot devices as anything that is too coincidental. Person One just so happened to be in the 'area' when Person Two was attacked (then they end up running into each other a bunch of times afterwards--really?). Those nicks-of-time rescues. Some random thing distracting a villain right before they are victorious and giving the hero enough time to gain the upper hand.I'd also like to think happenstance/luck/fortune has a place in sustaining tension, such as bad weather preventing the villain from reaching the heroes or certain people's paths so happening to cross at the right time.How do you draw the line between a plot device that is too contrived and a plot device that propels the story forward without breaking the suspension of disbelief?

Answer 1

There are two ways to measure the quality of your plot devices that I try to use when they surface in my own writing ( though I'm sure other professionals have others too). The first is, and this mostly applies to characters who might fall into this category, is to ask if the "device" has more purpose than simply to solve a sticky situation or to get you out of a writer's jam. Does the device/person have other significance to the protagonists? Do they have their own story that is interwoven into the overall story/book/ect.? You have to give them more value than a knick-of-time save.Almost pretend that they/it ARE a protagonist. Personally, I try to avoid physical objects if I can, but that doesn't mean great stories can't be used in this way.

The second question I ask is "Does this take away from my actual character?" Does having something or someone else save them rob them of character development? Does it take away from their journey? Does it interfere with my protagonist or does having someone/thing save them ADD to their story. IF they feel guilty or less or robbed or whatever that motivates more story, more character development, then I am all in for that! But if they are looking for revenge and then loose that revenge for no good reason, or after all their training and all their emotional journey they end up being bailed out by a sonic screw driver (Long Live the Doctor!) then you probably need to go back and rework this "plot device" into something more substantial. As much as cool setting and intrique plot twist can sell a book, characters are the heart of any fiction, so we must always be vigilant to making sure they are our focus.