Cause and
effect is the internal integrity of
the story that provides a logical framework and forward motion. Cause and effect
occurs at every level of a story’s construction, from sentence to paragraph to
page to chapter. Problems
occur when: cause has no effect,
effect has no cause, the effect precedes cause, or
when there is simultaneous cause and effect. Some examples…
Cause with no effect: He flipped
the switch and looked into her cold blue eyes. What is the effect of
flipping the switch? Looking into her cold eyes? To follow cause and effect it
should read: He flipped the switch. Light flooded the room. He looked
into her cold blue eyes.
Effect
with no cause: This occurs when a character acts or reacts for no
apparent reason, i.e., furious to calm with no transition.
Effect precedes cause: He shot
three times after pulling out the gun should read After pulling out the
gun, he shot three times.
Simultaneous cause and effect: Ripping
off the sheet, she collapsed onto the bed. This sentence implies that two events are
happening at the same time which, when imagined, seems unlikely. Better stated:
She ripped off the sheet and collapsed onto the bed.