Deux Ex Machina is a plot device originating as far back as ancient Greece. While it’s still widely used today, it can end up being problematic. Having some awareness of what Deux Ex Machina is can help us decide how to better manage the climax and resolutions of our stories to ensure that we provide readers with an ending that’s both engaging and satisfactory.
We all do it. I know I do. And once I explain what it is, you’ll probably realize you do it, too. It usually goes a little like this: Character A and Character B are having a heated discussion. The dialogue is sharp, piercing. Their expressions and physical language are poignant. The prose that holds…
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Remember all those Friends episodes where Monica wore a fat suit and everyone made jokes about her weight? Remember the appalling treatment of transgender people in Ace Ventura Pet Detective? More recently, Dr. Seuss’s publisher has made the decision to stop production on six of his books due to racist imagery. In today’s world, this…
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