658349328743289

230 Part IV: Developing Your Plot and Structure
relationship ‘has to happen’ because of the extraordinary coincidence that
led to the couple meeting. In a crime story, a detective may become convinced
that something was intended when in fact it was only a coincidence,
taking the investigation in the wrong direction and making a useful red
herring.
Coincidences used to be more acceptable in fiction in the past because they
were seen as the working of providence or fate. Plot coincidences are a staple
of much Victorian fiction and play a major part in the works of Thomas Hardy,
where they fit in with his pessimistic view of life, in which his characters struggle
against their destiny to no avail.
A recent novel that makes deliberate and effective use of coincidence is Ian
McEwan’s Black Dogs, which explores the tension between materialism and
spirituality. When faced with what some would read as a meaningful coincidence,
Bernard, the materialist and rationalist, ignores it, saying:
‘Yes. Quite a coincidence, I suppose. Now for goodness sake Jeremy, get
me home!’
—Ian McEwan (Black Dogs, Jonathan Cape, 1992)
Here are some useful aspects about coincidences in fiction:
✓ They make a meaningful pattern.
✓ They link things up.
✓ They can resolve plot problems.
But bad things about coincidences in fiction include the following:
✓ They can seem contrived.
✓ The writer may seem lazy.
✓ The story loses credibility.
Write a scene involving a coincidence. For instance, have character A talking
to character B about someone else they know. Then character B meets this
person in a completely unrelated context. Consider how the characters react.
Can you invent a reason for this meeting to happen that means it’s not a coincidence
at all?
Some people believe that coincidences contain meanings (check out the nearby
sidebar ‘Synchronicity’ for an example). Write about a meaningful coincidence
that occurs in the life of one of your characters. How does this change the character’s
viewpoint or feelings?