Little girl Quote by John Gardner
““From all we have said about plotting in general it should be evident that even in those modern plots in which events happen by laws not immediately visible, as when, for instance, the tattooed man in the circus reveals in the course of a whimsical conversation that he has on his chest a tattoo of the little girl now looking at him, a child he has never before seen, or as when, in Isak Dinesen, a decorous old nun turns abruptly into a monkey--there must be some rational or poetically persuasive basis.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Art of Plotting, John Gardner, 1991
Even hidden plot mechanisms need a logical or poetic justification to be believable.
In simple terms: Invisible plot forces must have a convincing basis.
Key Takeaway
Provide clear, underlying reasons for plot twists.
Themes
plotting
logic
poetry
narrative
structure
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
critical
Type
critical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- mystery writing
- character development
- scene construction
Key Concepts
causality
suspension of disbelief
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance subtlety and clarity?
- When is a hidden cause acceptable?
A Different Perspective
Over‑explaining can reduce mystery.
![“[E]very plot, worth the name, must be elaborated to its dénouement before anything be attempted with the pen. It is only with the dénouement constantly in view that we can plot its indispensable air of consequence, or causation, by making the incidents, and especially the tone at all points tend…” quote by Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7e3/edgar-allan-poe-315_air_e-very-plot-worth-the-name-must-be-elabo_2310099.jpg)
![“Plot a murder, you're saying. But every plot is a murder in effect. To plot is to die, whether we know it or not. [...] To plot, to take aim at something, to shape time and space. This is how we advance the art of human consciousness. (WN 291-2)” quote by Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/713/don-delillo-294_human-consciousness_plot-a-murder-you-re-saying-but-every-pl_3098490.jpg)
