S13E7 - When a Story is Fake or Forced

Diagnosing problems in writing can be one of the most difficult tasks for any author. The creators are most often blinded to their own shortcomings. Readers may notice when something is awkward or boring while the author thinks it's one of the more interesting excerpts. The August series is dedicated to diagnosing these problems, from continuity errors to gaps in logic the readers will inevitably question.

Have you ever found yourself making your characters do or say something only because it needs to happen? This is a sign that a story will feel fake to the reader. This problem is most often seen when a character drops a reference to a backstory that the others in the scene should already know. It also shows when the main character falls into the trope of being a Mary Sue or a Gary Stu. This episode helps walk you through how to identify and fix those parts that are too convenient to be natural story progression.

First aired August 24, 2020.