This is K.M. Wyland and you are listening to the 636 episode episode of the Helping Writers Become Authors Podcast.

I hope you enjoyed this week's episode.

What are Plot Devices and why you should be cautious.

So what are plot devices?

Basically, they're exactly what they sound like.

Events that maneuver the plot in particular directions.

All stories are built on plot devices.

In truth, everything that happens in a story is a plot device.

Story structure beats are plot devices.

Character arc beats are plot devices.

Plot devices are the little clockwork gears that make a story run.

This means plot devices are also one of a writer's most important tools. If you need to figure out

a way to get two characters to show up at the same place at the same time, a plot device is your key.

Want two characters to have good reason to hate each other.

Plot device.

This isn't a bad thing.

However, the term plot device often comes with the negative connotations associated

with poorly executed moments that feel contrived or like authors are manipulating events in order to make the plot do what they want.

Now of course all writers must manipulate the plot to some extent.

After all, we're not just responsible for creating the story we're also responsible for

steering it.

We know we need to get the characters from point A to point B which means coming up with plausible

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