tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post7140769414913701417..comments2024-03-22T12:11:58.453-06:00Comments on Michael Offutt: The Miracle ExemptionMichael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-25307956372874416902011-09-01T14:49:42.801-06:002011-09-01T14:49:42.801-06:00I had never heard of this. Now that you mention it...I had never heard of this. Now that you mention it, it is pretty fascinating. Ignore one scientific impossibility and you can use that to allow for a million gaping scientific impossibilities.Maurice Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15338165486757095191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-77678609827989707682011-08-30T18:22:55.729-06:002011-08-30T18:22:55.729-06:00I really enjoyed reading this post. All your examp...I really enjoyed reading this post. All your examples are intriguing. Now you have me wondering what the miracle exemption is in my books...hmmm.Emily R. Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03892444969625637064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-64954875075938090352011-08-30T07:50:18.537-06:002011-08-30T07:50:18.537-06:00Now that I understand what it is, I'm sure I d...Now that I understand what it is, I'm sure I do. I do know that I keep to what I believe is miracle exemption, Michael. Although you know I believe I was given an honest to goodness miracle with my Christopher. So... excellent post, my friend.<br /><br />BTW, miracle exemption from Monday and making it a do fun stuff day is sweet!Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-11290974960134991182011-08-30T06:14:54.796-06:002011-08-30T06:14:54.796-06:00Agreed - we should ALL get a miracle exemption fro...Agreed - we should ALL get a miracle exemption from Mondays!<br /><br />Hmmm, I think I may need to revisit this concept in my writing - I think I've been using it without realizing it! Thanks for the thought-food. :-)Crystalhttp://littlebundleofcontradictions.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-39003346863511508762011-08-29T21:23:38.444-06:002011-08-29T21:23:38.444-06:00rise of the apes is awesome! and good analysis of...rise of the apes is awesome! and good analysis of why it rocks!Aguilar Elliothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06200558918676043343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-89107302810380686422011-08-29T20:07:08.110-06:002011-08-29T20:07:08.110-06:00It bugs me when people who write religious books ...It bugs me when people who write religious books get to have a lot of miracle exemptions.<br /> Miracles hardly happen in real life so the only escape is fiction. <br />My grandson is so fascinatied by Super heroes that I would hate to limit the number of miracles on him. I tell him that superman can save good people. Will there ever be one? I am sure he will see some super humans among real people too. so please do not limit miracles:(MunirGhiasuddinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05232362559666320301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-67987260642845698992011-08-29T19:55:10.127-06:002011-08-29T19:55:10.127-06:00I do use a miracle exemption in my stories! I did...I do use a miracle exemption in my stories! I didn't know that I did, but after reading this post, I realize it. Now I'll look for miracle exemptions everywhere.<br /><br />Have you heard about the skeptic? In an otherwise realistic story, the magical element must have a skeptic who doesn't believe in the magic and needs convincing. It takes the skepticism away from the reader.Theresa Milsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477761307315565259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-51980287768657854642011-08-29T15:37:00.617-06:002011-08-29T15:37:00.617-06:00I don't write Science Fiction, but in my WIP t...I don't write Science Fiction, but in my WIP that I'm working on, I guess you could say the miracle exemption is that a perfect stranger is willing to take in a teen she doesn't know anything about. It's a suspense of disbelief in a way.Elisa DeLanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06466740168508428362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-2227743075079027202011-08-29T15:21:00.907-06:002011-08-29T15:21:00.907-06:00This is why I sometimes hate fantasy. Fantasy writ...This is why I sometimes hate fantasy. Fantasy writers will often decide to do whatever they feel like doing and excuse by saying "hey, it's magic" and leave it at that. It just doesn't work that way. There have to be rules even when you're making stuff up.<br /><br />As for my own work,yes, but I cant tell you what, because that would ruin the surprise. Let's just say it has to do with imagination.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-65519857859777556382011-08-29T13:41:18.498-06:002011-08-29T13:41:18.498-06:00still need to see this movie! agh!still need to see this movie! agh!j. littlejohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11509193666669169003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-1630138256697312622011-08-29T13:18:54.027-06:002011-08-29T13:18:54.027-06:00Hmmm... thought provoking. I do make use of a mira...Hmmm... thought provoking. I do make use of a miracle exemption in Doorways, and it does have a vital part in the landscape of the story. Its history, but as I said, it's part of the landscape. <br /><br />:-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-61751712752181039432011-08-29T13:05:46.375-06:002011-08-29T13:05:46.375-06:00I write realistic fiction, but even there, you nee...I write realistic fiction, but even there, you need to explain coincidences and limit them as much as possible. I think you're right--that the reader feels cheated... like you haven't done due diligence if it is too easy. And you definitely can't change how something works mid-game. I read an article from Rowling, too, on the limits of magic... can't bring back the dead (this is why horcruxes are such dark magic) can't create real love (only the obsessive brother)--and so much of the story requires these limits in order for the reader to NOT have grounds to say 'then why didn't they just..."Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-6507075596962600202011-08-29T12:50:05.280-06:002011-08-29T12:50:05.280-06:00Fantastic point. It seems like I've heard some...Fantastic point. It seems like I've heard someone famous in sci-fi mention something similar before. Their's was called a 'whopper', but it was the same point. You're allowed one whopper per book. Make it count.<br /><br />FTL & instant communication have become tropes I think. Even some 'hard' sci fi writers have thrown up their hands and started using it in their stories - but that wasn't their miracle. I think if the audience is prepared you can build upon accepted tenets of the genre without it counting as your miracle. <br /><br />In my own writing? Yep, I got 'em. It's hard to say how well they're used. I figure if the reader can accept a premise (advanced aliens are/were here), then it would be easier to take the logical steps with the story as things get weirder.Rusty Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09887821877521181811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-91835892471701249922011-08-29T12:40:53.131-06:002011-08-29T12:40:53.131-06:00Interesting concept. I suppose I do, and now I'...Interesting concept. I suppose I do, and now I'm wondering how strictly I adhere to it. I'm hoping it's very strictly.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-82736336127052609282011-08-29T12:33:34.235-06:002011-08-29T12:33:34.235-06:00The Spice in Dune, that's one miracle exemptio...The Spice in Dune, that's one miracle exemption that had far reaching consequences.<br /><br />I've got what I think is a miracle exemption in my scif-fi but I need physics to hurry up and give me a cutesy way to make it feel "logical".Steph Schmidthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00975939582442193113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-33351001200477931892011-08-29T12:08:12.694-06:002011-08-29T12:08:12.694-06:00This is the first time I've heard of the expre...This is the first time I've heard of the expression miracle exemption. I agree though, you need to keep the ME's to only a few (or better yet, just one) and you need to keep it throughout the book. Great post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12160669603997465454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-38935830061804617732011-08-29T11:48:59.504-06:002011-08-29T11:48:59.504-06:00Believability is one of the hardest things about s...Believability is one of the hardest things about science fiction. If you have an alien with unusual powers, then that's already one exemption.Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07922596724107742478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-18806583175146187412011-08-29T11:27:31.861-06:002011-08-29T11:27:31.861-06:00FTL travel is the miracle exemption in my previous...FTL travel is the miracle exemption in my previous WIP. If the characters weren't able to travel huge distances, then the whole setting and story itself would unravel.<br /><br />Great post!Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-58869768928974741262011-08-29T11:20:13.656-06:002011-08-29T11:20:13.656-06:00I don't write Sci-Fi, but of course I understa...I don't write Sci-Fi, but of course I understand the concept. Good post.J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-9112400475118338502011-08-29T11:08:54.183-06:002011-08-29T11:08:54.183-06:00Cool topic! I always called this the "centra...Cool topic! I always called this the "central conceit."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-26071632951050201752011-08-29T10:43:41.947-06:002011-08-29T10:43:41.947-06:00hmmm...never heard this term before, I'm wonde...hmmm...never heard this term before, I'm wondering if this could be applied to the Paranormal world as well? I'm going to have to think about this, I don't write Fantasy or Sci Fi; but am kicking around a Paranormal story...<br /><br />Michael, your blog is awesome! I learn stuff and often laugh out loud, I'm so glad I joined the Campaign!<br /><br />Thanks!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00163850266884874892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-59024458846992363942011-08-29T09:12:25.070-06:002011-08-29T09:12:25.070-06:00I've heard of the definition, but not the term...I've heard of the definition, but not the term. Thanks for teaching me something :)Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03237422917705115205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-87848209294642007012011-08-29T09:09:34.976-06:002011-08-29T09:09:34.976-06:00I've understood this concept for some time, bu...I've understood this concept for some time, but I was never aware that it had an actual name to it. Brilliant! Just about every story of mine has a miracle exemption, and I didn't even know it. Now I really need to see that Ape movie.<br /><br />Thank you for upping my story making know how, and thank you for all of your encouraging comments. :)David P. Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17259276981865439853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-22083265448255499712011-08-29T09:07:44.570-06:002011-08-29T09:07:44.570-06:00Interesting post! I tried to follow your blog, but...Interesting post! I tried to follow your blog, but the F5 button didn't work. Now following you on Twitter :).Isis Rushdanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06773053495985834484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-28741328506046444442011-08-29T08:19:06.225-06:002011-08-29T08:19:06.225-06:00I wish I had argued with someone about this stuff ...I wish I had argued with someone about this stuff this weekend. Plausibility is so important, but you're right, it goes further than that. Make your rules and stick to them. And bonus points if the exemption cuts two ways, as in your example.Luanne G. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15762881276976395955noreply@blogger.com