Fresh Fiction Blog | Harry Kraus | Making the Unbelievable Believable

Let's talk fiction pitfalls. How can the novelist deal successfully with the miraculous, coincidences, or the supernatural?

Seriously, this is a huge problem. We've all experienced it: we're reading happily along when suddenly something we read sticks out like a teacher's red marker on a calculus test. You think, "that could never happen!" It could be something supernatural, or miraculous, or it could be as mundane as two characters constantly bumping into each other. What a coincidence!

Authors protest: But miracles do happen! (I could tell you about a cancer patient I treated. Her breast cancer disappeared after prayer...but that's a great story for another time!) Sometimes circumstances do just fall into place.

The problem is this: Readers of fiction carry a bias into their reading. They think, this is made up, so they will not accept crazy unlikely coincidences or miracles without the proper preparation. Non-fiction readers carry no such bias. When I write non-fiction, I can be direct. I tell my reader, this was unbelievable, but here's what happened....and readers believe it. (I know, we shouldn't believe everything we read, but I'm just telling you about the bias we bring to our reading experiences.)

This comes into play when dealing with the supernatural. Readers aren't likely to believe the story if we tell them our protagonist saw an answer written in the clouds. So how do we get readers to suspend belief and enter an unbelievable world?

Realize that readers want to believe, even if they are biased against it. So give them an excuse. Use enough science fact to pass off the miraculous, even if you have to fudge, to nudge the reader towards belief. First let them know how solid objects are really mostly space between orbiting electrons and the atom's nucleus and that scientists have figured out how to align electrons by powerful magnets, BEFORE you have your protagonist disappear through a wall. That's not a perfect example, but you get the idea.

I had this dilemma while writing my latest novel, AN OPEN HEART. Open-heart patients were coming back after surgery with messages from beyond the veil...spooky and not likely, right? But during the set up, I let the reader know that during open-heart surgery, the heart is no longer beating (like in real death). Most readers remember stories about someone who remembered hearing something said during his or her surgery, right? But what if the anesthetist ran low on drugs that keep the patient unconscious (like in resource-poor Africa, as in my story), what kind of stories would patients bring back after having undergone a procedure where there heart is no longer pumping?

The other way to make this work is to have the fictional characters recognizing that the occurrence is unusual and phenomenal. If the protagonist simply accepts the miraculous, the reader will be frustrated with their naivety, but if the main character is struggling to accept it and finally becomes convinced, the reader will be convinced too!

One commenter will win A HEARTBEAT AWAY and an iTunes gift card.

Comments

Sometimes "miracles" in fiction do seem more like plot devices, but I agree if the character is struggling to accept what they saw then it makes the reader less likely to feel it is a plot device.
(Pam Howell 9:01am July 21, 2013)

This just shows how naïve I am. I seem to accept the whole story line. But,I do know that it is fiction after all.
(Kathleen Yohanna 9:27am July 21, 2013)

I am captivated with your unique novel which sounds compelling
and special and your talents. being a heart surgeon and a
novelist are a great combination. I am a breast cancer
survivor so would like to hear more about that idea and book.
Best wishes.
(Sharon Berger 9:58am July 21, 2013)

I have read many life after death books. Yours has an interesting twist to it. I think I would enjoy reading it.
(Betty Hamilton 11:22am July 21, 2013)

Under the circumstances, I'm sure that this happens. You wouldn't have to go to great lengths to prove it to me. That doesn't mean I'm gullible, I just have more of an open mind. Your book sounds really interesting, and considering the fact that I love books that delve into this subject, I would love to read it!!
(Peggy Roberson 11:48am July 21, 2013)

I read for escape---so I guess it's pretty easy for me to accept the unrealistic.
(Sue Farrell 11:48am July 21, 2013)

I have to plead guilty...I've gone into reading some books
with a totally closed mind. It could be all the "based on
actual events" only to be blown so far from it...urgh
(Billie Gaskill 12:05pm July 21, 2013)

I WISH I could believe in life after death but I just can't. Once I see a body to go earth, it remains there. Souls, I think not!
(Susan Coster 12:32pm July 21, 2013)

I'm very interested in this.... my great aunt died at 101 and a dear friend asked her if she saw any angels in the room... she said yes.
(Cate Sparks 12:42pm July 21, 2013)

What an interesting premise for a story. Am intrigued.
(G. Bisbjerg 12:57pm July 21, 2013)

Not many doctors write about their experience especially serving in non-profit foundations like Doctors without Borders. There are the majority of us that can't travel or have to skills to contribute. We would like to know what goes on in the background. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I do have a tendency to believe in the positive things that are going on and that is because I want and need to see that people do care.
(Kai Wong 1:14pm July 21, 2013)

A fascinating topic, one to keep an open mind about!
(Diane Pollock 3:08pm July 21, 2013)

Wow, Congrats on your new book:AN OPEN HEART and Yes Miracles
really do happen in Life. Thanks for the great book and I
would really love to win it and read it this summer. Thank
You. Cecilia CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 4:34pm July 21, 2013)

Thank you for sharing. I think there is an awful lot that we don't really understand but I do appreciate it when the central characters struggle with their credulity as well.
(E Felder 2:07am July 22, 2013)

I read with an open mind. It makes the experience so much
better.
(Mary Preston 5:22am July 22, 2013)

Miracles happen everyday. My family has experienced a few
miracles so I know that God is at work. Thanks for raising
this topic so others may beleive.
(Pam Scott 9:03am July 22, 2013)

I think that no one will know fully what happens in moments like this. Some people claim to "see a light" and others say they are in complete darkness. I suppose you will never know until you get there, but I love stories....giving my mind room to imagine!
(Veronica Jarvis 9:23am July 22, 2013)

Since I am not a doctor I can not know what goes on, however, I do believe that doctor's can work wonders and I believe that our higher power will be in charge and guide them so a miracle might be happening on occasions. Wonderful to believe in.
(Deana Connelly 9:57am July 22, 2013)

This book sounds amazing. I've never read a book quite like
this before!
(Cynthia Lam 10:52am July 22, 2013)

As long as a book is listed under fiction I'm open-minded enough to easily accept any supernatural or miracle occurancs. I've heard good things about this book and plan on reading it soon.
(Jamie Fortney 11:58am July 22, 2013)

You are right, I've heard of some things that really happened that can't
possible have really happened to people who you know would not make
things up or let their imagination run away.
(Laura Gullickson 4:09pm July 22, 2013)

Interesting point. :) Your books sound great too!
(May Pau 7:53pm July 22, 2013)

Enjoy your books. Thanks for the nice contest.
(Jackie Robertson 7:55pm July 22, 2013)

I believe in life after death.My Mom passed away on
Valentines Day, 3 years ago. On the first Valentines Day
after she passed I heard a loud disturbance at 6:20a.m. Went
out and turned on kitchen light and canned goods were slowly
sliding out of my pantry. Shelf had tilted. Just her way of
letting me know she was still around. 6:20 a.m. was her time
of death. Thanks for the contest!
(Teresa Ward 10:34pm July 22, 2013)

Sounds like a great book! Can't wait to read it.
(Sarah Bauman 12:01pm July 23, 2013)

I think I would phrase it as suspending disbelief rather than convincing the reader. No matter what you get them to accept in the story, they are not going to close the book and expect to see people walk through walls.
(Clare O'Beara 9:36am July 23, 2013)

As an emerg nurse I can see how it's difficult... I have never read any of
your books but am definitely adding them to be to be read list! :)
Lisa ([email protected])
(Lisa Medeiros 12:21pm July 23, 2013)

I like learning how to shape the intention and focus of the
main character. Thanks for clearing up how to make the reader
half-believe something that is a stretch of the truth by
having the MC (Main Character) accept it and go with the flow.
(Alyson Widen 8:52pm July 23, 2013)

Interesting storyline - would love to read the book, thanks
for the opportunity to win a copy. I have witnessed medical
miracles & my mind is always open to the possibility of
reality in the fiction I read.

bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
(Bonnie Roof 9:40pm August 1, 2013)

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