Master of our fortunes
My husband and I grew up four blocks from each other, but never met till his last year of college.
Oh, but the story gets better:
Oh, but the story gets better:
- We went to the same junior high, high school, junior college and finally university.
- He watched me cheer at several of his sister’s basketball games, and I cheered for a stranger on the football roster because he was from my hometown.
- His roommates came over to my apartment all the time. He even ate cookies I baked, but didn’t know the girl who made them.
- I dated his best friend’s younger brother, and may have dated a few of his friends.
We crossed paths in dozens of ways over a ten-year period, but Fate took his time putting us on a collision course. Once we met, it only took three months to decide he was the perfect guy for me.
For me, Fate is real. It’s something I’ve experienced first hand. But man! As soon as you mention it in a written work, other writers, agents, and editors gag. Fate has become an easy out, a major cliche.
We shouldn’t use fate to explain everything. Too many coincidences are cheesy, but I’m a totally sucker for a serendipitous turn of fortune.
Am I alone in my love of a good twist of fate? Do you avoid using it when you write?
18 Comments
Joanne
Have you seen the movie Serendipity? Love that film and its twists of fate …
I haven’t really used fate in my writing, but it seems like putting a fated situation in just the right place, in just the right way, could be fun to write.
Becky Wallace
There were a whole string of good movies with fate-based plots: Sleepless in Seattle, While You Were Sleeping, and yes, Serendipity. All great movies, but they fall into the “Cheesy Chick Flick” category. I’m sure there are only a select group of writers that actually aim for that genre.
Katrine
I love your story how you met your husband! I have no great fate stories about myself. Bummer! But I do know a girl who’s fiance dumped her one week before her wedding. She was left with the horrible task of calling all the guests she had sent invitations to letting them know the wedding had been canceled. A single man saw the invitation that had been sent to his parents. He said to his mom, “Too bad she’s getting married. I would love to take out a girl like her!” His mom said, “Actually she just called and the wedding has been called off.” Fate stepped in, he called her a couple of weeks later, and now they’re married with two kids!
Becky Wallace
@Katrine: That is a great story! Love it!
William Kendall
This sounds like one of those asides from When Harry Met Sally!
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