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Q&A Introducing a plot-critical hallucinogen partway through a mystery?

My feeling is that you should hint at it, so that it doesn't feel like a deus ex machina, but write your story and show it to some beta readers asking about that in particular. If you hint too stro...

posted 8y ago by Lauren Ipsum‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Answer
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-13T12:00:38Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/24372
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T05:32:10Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/24372
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T05:32:10Z (almost 5 years ago)
My feeling is that you should hint at it, so that it doesn't feel like a deus ex machina, but write your story and show it to some beta readers asking about that in particular. If you hint too strongly, it becomes obvious, but if you don't mention anything about this drug until the protagonist receives it, it shatters the suspension of disbelief.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2016-08-28T18:40:42Z (about 8 years ago)
Original score: 3