There are many ways a script or novel can go astray. Today, we’re going to review three big plotting issues that face writers: plot armor, deus ex machina, and plot holes. All three fall squarely in the writer’s hands.
Let’s begin by defining these issues:
Plot Armor
Plot armor refers to characters in films and novels who cannot die or be seriously injured because of their importance to the story. The armor protects them from harm so the plot can continue. The problem with plot armor is that the audience sees through it. They know when things don’t make sense and the character survives solely because of their importance to the story and not because it makes sense within the scene or the rules set up within the story.
Deus ex Machina
Deus ex machina (a Latin phrase meaning “god out of the machine”) refers to using divine intervention to solve your character’s issues. In most cases, deus ex machina appears as an omniscient being or god-like character that sweeps in and saves the day, but it doesn’t have to be an actual god or character. It could be an act of god, such as a convenient storm or crazy coincidence. It could be the appearance of a powerful weapon or tool. Or it could be a new ability that suddenly appears. Whatever the solution is, it only exists to resolve the protagonist’s problem and provide a positive outcome. This type of plot device is used when there is no other way to resolve the issue other than divine intervention or by will of the author.
Plot Holes
Plot holes are missing elements within the logic of the story that allows the story to proceed without explaining how. Plot holes often happen when there is no reasonable way for what happens to happen. Plot holes can include illogical actions, breaks in character (or acting out of character), impossible events, or contradictions. This happens a lot in stories with magical systems or power scaling when those abilities are forgotten or disappear in order for something to happen in the plot.
These three types of plot devices are similar in nature. They all result from a lack of story logic and poor plotting.
In the next blog, we’ll explore why you might want to use these plot devices and what to watch out for if you do.