Plot MechanicsFoundational
Causality
The chain by which events produce other events.
Principle
Because is stronger than and then.
Takeaways
- Causality lets readers feel inevitability rather than sequence.
- Weak causal links make plot feel episodic.
- Coincidence can begin trouble, but should rarely solve it.
Overview
Causality is the logic by which one event leads to another. It is the difference between incidents arranged in order and a plot whose pressures accumulate.
Examples
- A lie forces a cover story, which creates the alibi that later traps the liar.
- A mercy shown early leaves alive the witness who changes the trial.