Literary Necessititus

Image is mine.
@DWDavis (25805)
United States
February 17, 2022 4:43pm CST
What is Literary Necessititus you ask? This is the phrase K and I use to explain some of the more ridiculous plot devices used in movies and TV shows to keep the story moving. We enjoy pointing out such far-fetched plot devices, especially in Hallmark mystery movies. Why the Hallmark movies? Because the writers of those movies often have no clue as to how something would be handled in the real world and resort to bizarre happenstance to explain why what happened did happen where it happened and when it happened just when the right person was there to see it happen. Hallmark isn't the only regular employer of Literary Necessititus. Most cop and detective shows, as well as medical shows, use it a lot. You'll know you're seeing it in action when you find yourself thinking or saying, "That would never happen that way in real life." Watch for it. Give yourself a pat on the back when you catch them at it. PS: The photo isn't really a small dinosaur standing in the lake eating leaves.
13 people like this
13 responses
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
18 Feb 22
Love the photo! I’ve noticed that literary necessititus, too. I agree!
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
18 Feb 22
I see it so much in movies and TV shows, but my editor won't let me get away with it in my books.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
18 Feb 22
@DWDavis Thank goodness
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (104214)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
17 Feb 22
My late brother in law who served in the armed forces in Vietnam when he saw the movies about the war, he would tell my sister that the events in the movie are not what happened in real life which bothered him.
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
17 Feb 22
I served in the Infantry and spent two years in Korea along the DMZ. My missus had to make a rule that I am not allowed to comment on all the mistakes they make in movies that relate to the military.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (104214)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
18 Feb 22
@DWDavis That is a good rule to follow.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (71838)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 Feb 22
It's still fun to watch those things. And, sometimes, unless you're a doctor, cop or lawyer, you might think some isn't real when it is. Sometimes, they'll do something you would do in real life, but use the wrong term for it.
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
18 Feb 22
We do enjoy watching the movies and part of our fun is picking on the outlandish plot devices.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (90477)
• Arvada, Colorado
18 Feb 22
That photo is ethereal I love that way you have coined the Hallmark movies. Doesn't Lifetime do that too?
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
18 Feb 22
I imagine they all do it. It helps move the pace along and keep things interesting.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342179)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Feb 22
Are you sure that's not a dinosaur? I know what you're saying about LN. Some plots really are quite ridiculous.
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
17 Feb 22
I wish I could say otherwise, but, yes, I'm sure.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342179)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 22
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
18 Feb 22
Yes I catch those moments often while watching tv. Lovely photo.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
18 Feb 22
I'm glad you like the photo. It was one of those rare moments when I was able to capture something truly unique.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
18 Feb 22
@DWDavis It is unique. I thought dinosaur at first.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (182257)
• United States
19 Feb 22
That is really a neat photo. You have to suspend belief to watch some of these shows and enjoy them for sure.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
19 Feb 22
Thanks. I'm really glad the picture came out as well as it did.
@jstory07 (139996)
• Roseburg, Oregon
18 Feb 22
I love watching the Hallmark movies. Someone always shows up in time to save the day. That would never happen in real life.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
18 Feb 22
The missus and I are addicted to Hallmark Mysteries. Our favorite is Morning Show Mysteries but we like the others, too.
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
17 Feb 22
Love it! Easy to spot, isn't it? And, yes-that does look like a dinosaur.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
17 Feb 22
I was startled when I first saw the branch sticking up out of the lake. For a moment, I couldn't believe my eyes.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108251)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Feb 22
Love the photo. At first I seen an alligator
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38219)
• Philippines
17 Feb 22
I’ve watched two Hallmark romance movies before and they’re basically just the same plot. And lol to the dinosaur not dinosaur
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
17 Feb 22
The Hallmark romances of the past couple of years do all follow the same formula to the point it becomes boring watching them. They weren't always so much alike. If you go back ten years or so, some of them were much better - better acted, better filmed, better directed, and with better scripts.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (19565)
• London, England
18 Feb 22
That is the thing about books, they have the time to develop the plot and don't usually rely on such lucky happenstance or huge coincidence... well, mostly
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
18 Feb 22
I can tell you that my editor won't let me get away with using LN to get out of having to fill in plot holes.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (19565)
• London, England
19 Feb 22
@DWDavis Yep, have to do the spade work to get a smooth finish!
1 person likes this
@Faster16 (3181)
• Indonesia
18 Feb 22
my brain skimmed in the photo it looks like a dinosaur
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
18 Feb 22
Doesn't it, though? It really caught me by surprise when I came upon it while hiking around the lake.
1 person likes this