by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
Writing a coincidence in fiction often leads to reader distrust. To the reader, it appears the happening is a planned action to accomplish an end.
A story containing a coincidence(s), which is an accident, chance, fate, or serendipitous event doesn’t resonate with the reader. They see the contrived nature. The reader no longer trusts the author and is finished with the story—and probably anything else written by the author. Readers seldom give second chances to an author who has disappointed them. Those readers see no reason to commit time and money to another book only to risk frustration again.