When inconvenient things happen to good (or not so good) characters

Oct 30, 2009 by Jackie Speel

The actual or potential disaster or Bad Thing Happening is a staple of much fiction particularly with longer stories or series. What tends to be ignored, and which can be just as much plot drivers as the Major Event are the ‘minor inconveniences’ and vexatious events which occur in Real Life.

The following is based on a list of inconveniences and vexations which can be used to define or embellish the story, of which some can be combined. Some of the suggestions will ‘suit’ particular authors, characters and settings more than others. As with herbs and spices in cooking ‘subtle mentions and passing references’ can be more effective with plot devices (including those not mentioned here).

The timing and location of the plot device should be considered – before, during or after the actual story: the effects on the narrator character/group of the inconvenience happening to a character elsewhere etc, even if not made explicit. Should the plot device be explicitly mentioned, or be hinted at to the reader (whether or not obvious to the characters involved), and only evident at the end of the story or on a second reading of the text?

During the course of the story a character:

Becomes drunk/otherwise temporarily suffers from excess and overindulgence and faces the consequences. (This can overlap with getting into ‘unhelpful’ situations, encounters with tabloid journalism, pratfalls and other embarrassing activities.)

Alternatively the character become addicted – drugs, alcohol, sex, food, shopping gambling etc. The ‘drunken hero sobered up for ventures new’ (and it is almost invariably a chap) is a cliché – but what is the backstory or impact? How would the other characters react – make gibes about researching a Celebrity Diet Book, providing support/arranging for ‘a cure’, get further supplies or ‘rescue’ the ‘hero’/Evil Ruler  from the unpleasant situations arising, or would they exploit the situation? What happens if the Evil Ruler, rebel hero or other character goes to XY Anonymous/rehab (and not just ‘meets interesting characters/next group/crime to be resolved)? Variants on the ‘but dear reader it was all an alcoholic/drug induced dream or nightmare’ scenario/cliché should, as in other contexts, normally be avoided.

Gets found with their hands in the till/dating someone thoroughly inappropriate/embarrassing (and cannot “explain it away”). Alternatively the character goes to seed (in whatever way you fancy) or a moral decline (how could this be done with the Evil Ruler?). The hero(ine) may have to make compromises or do things that are not legitimate – but how would this be seen by those around them or the ‘tabloid reading general public’? At what point  would the hero(ine) realise that they have made so many minor compromises that they are acting contrary to their initial belief system/areseen as hypocrites?

The character becomes a more or less unwillingly participant or bystander in a student rag week etc event, an activity that is totally at odds with their official persona, or a minor participant in a sequence of events where  someone else is the dominant figure (rather than combining resources or being the centre of attention). (Whether these activities can be exploited by others will depend upon the plotline.)

Becomes involved with an unsuitable group/cult. (this could be potentially different for the ‘unpleasant ruler’ and the ‘hero of the piece’ and can include fanclub/support for incongruous sports club etc), criminal activity (not being a genius in any field thereof), bookclub/equivalent that cannot be escaped (whether accidental or initiated  up by rivals, rebels and others). Links up with an unsuitable partner (whether or not initially apparent). Alternatively encounters an over-persistent salesperson or spam-merchant.

Becomes part of a doomed conspiracy/reformist group, has to maintain a ‘necessary piece of ancient equipment’/outdated computer with vital information etc, stop the decline in a business/industry/country/other body (and fails). Alternatively the opponents of the evil empire use their ingenuity in technology, economics and other areas to advance their position – while bankrupting the evil empire through its reliance on traditional methods.

Has to train their replacement/watches their replacement take over (not being of an inclination to retire). This can be the Evil Ruler’s equally unpleasant successor, as well as a new rebel hero(ine) – or group – perhaps with a different viewpoint.

Becomes subject of investigative reporter or similar (possibly based in another location where there is no retrieval policy/capacity for legal intervention), disagrees with their biographer etc, has book, artwork or other creation the subject of bad reviewers/general public’s hatchet jobs. The character (including the Evil Overlord) is variously slandered, libelled, insulted, disbelieved or stalked. Alternatively becomes the subject of a curse of the more creative kind, a scam, identity theft or similar (how would this affect the hero/evil overlord/appropriator?).

Gets sacked/made redundant/shipwrecked/stranded/goes bankrupt/gets divorced or separates in unhappy circumstances: how would it affect their personal and public lives?

Runs out of something vital ‘of the usual kind’ at an inconvenient time which dose not involve ‘one and onlyi items at the other end of the planet, galaxy or other  setting . This can include such things as the equivalents of light bulbs and fuses as the local festivities begin.

The character demonstrates seeming ignorance/incompetence in a supposed area of expertise (when not a ploy to divert an opponent’s attention: this can include both Sages and Supposedly Advanced Computers). Alternatively finds their skills have become outmoded (this can range from the expert associated with the hero via the Evil Overlord and associates to the sarky computer).

Encounters minor delays and diversions of the kind normally experienced, gets *very* lost and is unable to make sense of their map, or gets caught in a traffic jam/a city’s overcomplicated one way system (of the sort where ‘if you wish to go *there* you don’t start from *here*). This includes the planned invasion, the scientific genius and the advanced computer. As a result has ‘encounter rage’ or similar. (A variant on the Murphy’s Law that fighting always occurs on the borders between two maps.)

Gets promoted above their capacities. (Both good guys and bad guys.)

The narrator character/hero has to get emergency minor medical treatment/standard medical checks (without recourse to Mary Sue author crossovers or ‘Disaffected Scientists in Voluntary Exile – charitable donations of  goods and objects regularly made.’). Likewise minor practical problems – such as dealing with a leaky tap.

Does something unsuitable to/quarrels with someone important.

Fights a losing battle against middling bureaucracy etc. (Rebel leader in office/Evil Overlord meets Yes Minister’s Sir Humphrey) Or – makes use of such bureaucracy to thwart opponents.

Finds something they own is a fake/actually for a completely different purpose entirely (and not of the ‘we need a gizmo – your paperweight at the back of your cupboard actually is one’ type).

Forced to ‘keep up with the Jones’s/live slightly beyond their means/go in for conspicuous consumption. (This could include the Evil ruler.)

Has a visit to the hairdressers/beauticians etc go disastrously wrong.

Has an event they were going to cancelled/misses an important appointment

Has dreams which are non-predictive, do not solve problems etc (or are, in fact, the reverse), gets. haunted by a non-useful ghost/poltergeist, or is affected by adverse weather conditions

Has to put up with a ‘created colourful reputation’, nickname etc that is not appropriate.

Is the subject of a story which cannot be disapproved – or only at the cost of revealing something worse).

Has an unfortunate encounter with some paint/other substance.

Is the subject of an April Fool’s joke/other practical joke.

Loses a bet/a law case/some baggage/something important

Misinterprets a Valentines Day card/other missive/present (or has such an item misinterpreted or subject to disapproval).

Realises they cannot (or no longer can) make their body live up to their vanity, or runs out of partners, resources etc (particularly the Evil Overlord/Empress).

Someone realises they have taken on the role of their opponent/their absent ruler without wishing to. (This is a cliché, but included)

Suffers a decline in social status.

Suffers from overwork.

Unflattering audio/visual clip (Or contemporary equivalents.), performance on a reality TV or similar show

Wins a booby prize/is given a white elephant (which cannot be passed on).

Characters in context
Acquires or becomes involved with their nightmare job, neighbour, relative, work colleague, house, holiday, business or transport etc. (What this constitutes can be quite different for the Evil Overlord/Empress, the Innocent Bystander and the heroes)

Appears in an undignified manner in the tabloid/‘creative journalism’ newspapers end of the market. (Thus being held up to ridicule, or the present reality rather than the normally used ‘decorative youthful picture’ of XX years ago.)

Has a communication of the ‘press multiple numbers in sequence’ phone-call type (and, on contacting ‘an actual human’ is told they have to try again with a slightly different sequence).

Has a disagreement with the tax/other government department (Evil Overlord/Empress’ palace having to get planning permission retroactively, or the Heritage and Countryside Maintenance (or equivalent) bodies. and refused. (Subverting/getting the sympathy of such bodies might be a suitable game plan for opponents of the existing system, rivals etc. ‘Going by the rules’ which cause inconvenience- especially when the rules have been endorsed by the person against whom they are being applied – can cause far more inconvenience than sniping by subordinates, and rebel activity.)

Has a family member/subordinate do something embarrassing – including an Evil Overlord/Empress (There are regular examples at the present day)..

Has a house/office/other building or possession damaged/destroyed by a natural disaster/accident/criminal activity

Has a minor/major illness or accident (which does not have a ‘suffering beautifully’ phase). This includes visiting dentists, opticians, delays in treatment etc.

Has a pratfall.

Has a piece of equipment for which the instructions are in twenty languages, and the version in the language(s) normally used mangled into near-incomprehensibility. Ditto ‘construct your own furniture pack’ (or similar) where every possible variant of putting together is wrong (and leaves some ‘spare parts’).

Author Bio: Jackie Speel enjoys researching obscure history.

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