They want them to change and to learn lessons along the way. Readers want to see characters go through an ordeal before they reach their goals. The consequences of this flaw make a difference in the story.Ĭonsequences allow for change and change is great for storytelling. For example, in Othello, Othello’s jealousy (character flaw) drives him to murder. We write about character flaws and we say that you must include them, but you should only include them if they affect the story. For example, if your protagonist has the opportunity to kill (or remove) the antagonist, but does not do it, show how that person continues to wreak havoc in their world. In their purest form, consequences show the cause and effect that people want from storytelling. Readers must feel that everything matters and that there will be a reckoning for the actions of the characters. We do not want this to happen when people read our books. There is a sense that nothing matters and people become despondent. If there are no consequences for bad things that happen in a society, apathy and lawlessness sets in. You could say they give the possibility of showing the moral of the story. Consequences give meaning to their actions. Our characters’ actions and choices move stories to their conclusions. This is especially true when you are planning the end of your book. Readers want an ending that satisfies them. If our characters do something good or something bad, or if they fail to do something, there must be consequences for their actions. The term is mostly used in a negative context to show the effect, result, or outcome of something that happened at an earlier time. What Is A Consequence?Īccording to Oxford, it is ‘a result or effect of an action or condition.’ One of the most common phrases associated with the word is ‘bear the consequences’, which means to ‘accept responsibility for the negative results of one’s action’. ![]() ![]() In fiction, for a reader to be satisfied, we must ensure that there are consequences for characters’ actions. We read fiction because it is not like real life where there are often no consequences for terrible people and the awful things they do. Must-Read: 5 Criteria For Creating Successful Story Goals If that story goal is any good, there should be terrible consequences if that character fails to achieve the goal. When we plot a book, we give our protagonist a story goal. Read this post to find out why you need them in your stories. The importance of consequences in fiction cannot be overstated.
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