Is it impossible to get away with Dickensian coincidence in today's fiction, despite the fact it happens in real life all the time?
For example, yesterday I had to go to the hospital to undergo a medical procedure. My husband and I were early, so while we were waiting in line to buy coffee, I was checking my shiny new iPhone. I had an email from my friend Em telling me that our other friend Zoe had her baby 2 days before. There were photos and info about name and weight. I was pleased.
Off I went to have my nasty, invasive procedure <shudder>. When we were on our way out, just stepping off the elevator, we ran into my friend Zoe's husband getting ONTO the elevator to go up and visit his wife and newborn son. We went up with him and I got to see my friend and meet her beautiful baby.
Totally true. Holy coincidence!!
Could you get away with a scene like that in a novel or would readers toss it as unbelievable and too coincidental?
For example, yesterday I had to go to the hospital to undergo a medical procedure. My husband and I were early, so while we were waiting in line to buy coffee, I was checking my shiny new iPhone. I had an email from my friend Em telling me that our other friend Zoe had her baby 2 days before. There were photos and info about name and weight. I was pleased.
Off I went to have my nasty, invasive procedure <shudder>. When we were on our way out, just stepping off the elevator, we ran into my friend Zoe's husband getting ONTO the elevator to go up and visit his wife and newborn son. We went up with him and I got to see my friend and meet her beautiful baby.
Totally true. Holy coincidence!!
Could you get away with a scene like that in a novel or would readers toss it as unbelievable and too coincidental?