Order in the (Plot) Court

Reaction Before Trigger, The Psychic Detective, and Teleporting Protagonist—under oath.

Opening Statement

Court is now in session. This week we’re putting plot hiccups on trial. Specifically, three common problems that cause unnecessary friction for readers, fatiguing, or worse, confusing them to the point of setting down the book. Once we’ve established guilt, we’ll explore admissible fixes, and explain why each one persuades the jury.

Bailiff, show them in.

Case #1: Reaction Before Trigger (Line-Level Disorder) Charge

Exhibit A: I flinch as the glass shatters.

Exhibit B: The glass shatters and I flinch.

Ruling: Put the cause on the page before the effect. Every time you lead with a reaction, you ask your reader to time-travel.

Why this works: It keeps readers rooted in the character’s experience of the scene. Done too often or taken to the extreme, placing reactions out of order can cause readers to reread, looking for what they’ve missed. Conversely, ordering actions chronologically helps readers experience the scene alongside the POV character, rather than on a delay.

Case #2: The Psychic Detective (Conclusion Without Evidence) Charge

Verdict delivered before proof.

Exhibit A: He’s lying.

Exhibit: His smile freezes a beat too long, eyes sliding left. He’s lying.

Ruling: Give one telltale detail before the conclusion.

Why this works: Readers trust what they can see, then they’ll believe what your POV character thinks. Sure, your character might be a hardened detective that catalogues these details in an instant, but unless the reader can follow along, the gravity of that characteristic is lost.

Case #3: Teleporting Protagonist (Vanished Elapsed Time) Charge

Scene cuts that erase time, distance, or cost.

Exhibit A: Abrupt cut to the rooftop showdown, two boroughs away, within the same minute and no transition.

Exhibit B: An hour later, the river wind needles through her coat on the Riverside roof. The sirens she outran drift in the distance.

Ruling: On re-entry, stamp a quick when/where and a price paid (weather, fatigue, missed call). Continuity restored.

Why this works: Readers need grounding in the story. Without time or place, story happens in a white box, where it’s rarely enjoyed to its fullest potential. A quick anchor keeps the reader and character both firmly in the scene, improving immersion and eliminating confusion.

Closing Argument

To have order in the (plot) court, it helps to zoom out, to see the scene from a reader’s perspective. This is a skill that can take time to learn, but it’s worth it to ensure the reader is with you every step of the way. Don’t let your story be obscured by minor confusions. Let the delivery be clear, so the characters and (ordered) plot can take center stage.

Next on the Docket

If your plot is in order, take the scene over to The Character Witness Stand with Niki Fixtion to make sure your character choices aren’t getting them put on trial. Court Adjourned.