I’d never have met my husband if it hadn’t been for that freshman math requirement at my liberal arts college.
I’d never have even gone in the math building.
He was a junior and I was a freshman and that was the only class we ever shared. Without that class, I wouldn’t have met him, married him, wouldn’t have two children who look like him. Maybe I’d be working now and not have as much time to write.
Some ascribe to the notion that you’re destined to follow a particular path no matter what—that maybe he and I wouldn’t have met in a classroom without that math requirement, but we’d have met at a party instead and I’d have still ended up where I am now.
I don’t think I believe that.
I like writing in little twists of fate in for my characters. My character recently had a day that could be charted like this: got up, went to the main setting, witnessed the soon-to-be-murder-victim behaving badly, went back home.
The path was boring, so I shook it up with a flat tire and a good Samaritan. Not only did I throw up an obstacle for my protagonist, but I forced her to be late for an event that she needed to get to. I sent her day on a different trajectory.
We can’t do this type of thing to change the ultimate course of the book or save the protagonist—this reeks of deus ex machina and is incredibly frustrating for readers. Actually, it would never get to the reader because the editor would take that sucker right out.
But if my book is getting predictable, if my characters are stuck in a rut, if my middle is a little saggy, I like to introduce a small twist to send them off in a different direction. They’re initially reluctant to follow that direction (like I was reluctant to take college mathematics), but the end result is more satisfying to read.
There is nothing that can top the beloved unexpected “twist” in a good mystery novel. Even in my genre, spiritual/inspirational fiction, I use twists. I agree, nothing is more boring than predictability in a book. I’m like – why bother reading – I already know what’s going to happen!
The Old Silly
Plus, it mirrors life. Things happen in real life. We set out to go to the grocery store and all kinds of things happen between our home and the store. Most go unnoticed, but some could (but don’t usually) set us off on a different path. A biker is riding on a narrow shoulder. We slow down and give him a wide berth. And continue on our way. What happens if the car in front doesn’t do that and hits the biker? What happens if it’s something less significant – we hit so many red lights the store is closed by the time we get there?
Helen
Straight From Hel
Hi Marvin–I love twists in a mystery, too. Favorite twist: Christie’s “Murder of Roger Ackroyd.”
Helen–Scary thought. Do you remember “Bonfire of the Vanities?” Your scenario reminded me of that novel…
Elizabeth
I think it’s great literary advice. I just finished a story where a small unexpected thing happened to my protag that I hadn’t expected from the beginning either. I think it made the situation more comic and real.
In a similar story to yours, my parents met one summer during college while my dad helped my mom study through their math class. She eventually earned a Masters in Biochem, but this was pure maths, as they say. I don’t know how or when else their paths might’ve crossed either, as my mom attended a women’s college for undergrad.
Hi Clare,
You’re right…I didn’t think about the comedic effect or the way that it adds a dose of reality to our books. Because, really, how many of us have a day that follows the path we think it will?
Great story about your parents meeting. If they hadn’t…well, you wouldn’t have been here to tell the story! It’s really amazing to think about…
Elizabeth
Thank you for the reminder of how “twists” can shake up a boring character. I’ll use this tip tonight with my young writers group!
~Mary Jo
writelikeCRAZY.wordpress
Thanks for stopping by, Mary Jo!
Elizabeth