A plot device is a technique that is used by all types of writers to progress with the plot of the story. Even if you have crafted the most perfect story, plot, scenes, and characters, you still need that spark to keep the story going. This spark is usually lit through various plot devices, crucial for the success of any story.
These plot devices are well-conceived into the story, matching the exact genre, scenes, and characters effectively, sometimes through professional ghostwriting services. These plot devices are great narrative tools that could keep your readers engaged for a long time while elevating the impact of your story.
Exploring Some Common Plot Devices Used In The Literary World
Once you master the art of effectively utilizing plot devices, you can have fun experimenting with them. Some of the common ones are:
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Love Triangles
Love Triangles are the most common form of plot device that is utilized in almost every other romance genre. It is a romantic situation that involves more than two people in a love triangle with each other.
This plot device provides room for both internal and external conflict while providing the story with more drama and engagement. This is the basic arc for the story, around which you can build your story and interesting characters.
Example: Casablanca
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Red Herring
Red Herring is another common plot device that is used frequently in thriller, mystery, fantasy, or science fiction genres. It is a false clue that is plotted to divert the story from the main point or big reveal.
This plot device is used in a way to plot certain fake hints like people, objects, and other details throughout the story to mislead the audience. This is a great factor for adding more drama and engagement to a story.
Example: Frozen
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Deus Ex Machina
Deus Ex Machina is another plot device that is often referred to as “an act of God” because of its unexpectedness. It was more popular in narratives written back in time at the period of ancient Greece.
This plot device is used when an impossible situation is suddenly resolved out of nowhere and in an unlikely manner. It provides the story with an accidental or coincidental situation that has no clear logic or explanation behind it.
Example: Miracles From Heaven
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MacGuffin
A MacGuffin is a plot device that is in the shape of something like a valuable necklace, a stack of cash, or a statue. These devices are often used in genres that are mysterious or enchanting in a deceptive way.
These devices technically have no impact or value in the story but are extremely crucial to fuel the plot and characters in the story. They are responsible for making a genre more interesting and meaningful with a certain purpose even when it is not met.
Example: Mission Impossible 3
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Framing Devices
Framing Devices are plot devices that are used to construct the outside frame of an already beautiful picture. This plot device is used in genres like adventure or comedy to make it more intriguing.
This is used in any story by a writer to frame the initial story with a secondary one like farming it. Framing devices can get quite tricky and confusing to incorporate but once done effectively can enhance the influence of your story.
Example: The Grand Budapest Hotel
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Flashbacks
Flashbacks are another very common type of plot device that everyone has seen at least once in their life. This plot device provides a view into the past period of characters or a certain relationship.
Everyone must have a general idea about what this plot device is about as it has appeared in countless movies both old and new. However, it requires great skill to utilize this poot device effectively without making a mess with it.
Example: The Haunting of Hill House
The Bottom Line
Plot devices can help in vitalizing or spicing up the plot of your story if used correctly. However, not all of them are going to work for and you need to try each of them out to know which works best.