Books Quote by Thomas McCormack
““Readers tend to tolerate such "accidents"... when they get the characters into trouble but they're less accepting when the author uses them to rescue people. The "deus ex machina"...in one stroke it renders meaningless all the efforts of the cast.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Narrative Devices, 1990
Readers accept accidental mishaps but reject contrived rescues, which feel like lazy deus ex machina.
In simple terms: Readers dislike forced plot fixes.
Key Takeaway
Avoid convenient plot twists.
Themes
storytelling
authenticity
critique
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
literary
educational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- game design
Key Concepts
literature
drama
Questions to Reflect On
- When is a rescue justified?
- How to foreshadow without spoilers?
A Different Perspective
Some twists can be satisfying if foreshadowed.
