Conveniently Interrupted Document: Difference between revisions

[[File:refletter_2292refletter 2292.jpg|frame|Well, this is very informative.]]

[[Scrapbook Story|Scrapbook Stories]], [[Epistolary Novel|Epistolary Novels]]s and other works of the kind which make heavy use of [[Fictional Document|Fictional Documents]]s will almost inevitably run into the problem of how to avoid the [[Fictional Document]] giving away too much information. Supposing the novel in question is a [[Cosmic Horror Story]] and the [[Fictional Document]] refers to [[These Are Things Man Was Not Meant to Know|Things Man Was Not Meant To Know]], or [[Brown Note|Brown Notes]]s which supposedly cause the reader to [[Go Mad From the Revelation]]. Obviously, few writers are skilled enough to actually compose such a [[Brown Note]], so including the [[Brown Note]] in the text of the [[Fictional Document]] itself is out of the question. But the writer still needs to use the [[Fictional Document]] to get vital plot information across. How does the writer get out of this quandary?

This trope refers to cases in which [[Fictional Document|Fictional Documents]]s are damaged in a way which is particularly convenient for the author, whether by escaping the scenario described above, avoiding giving away plot twists prematurely or simply avoiding [[No Name Given|referring to a particular character by name]].

This is primarily a literary trope, but can pop up in any work which features [[Fictional Document|Fictional Documents]]s.

In cases like the first example, it can be a blazingly unsubtle example of [[Take Our Word for It]]. Commonly found (of course) in [[Scrapbook Story|Scrapbook Stories]] and other works which make use of [[Fictional Document|Fictional Documents]]s. Can be justified via the [[Literary Agent Hypothesis]]. [[Sister Trope]] to [[His Name Is]]. [[Plot-Based Voice Cancellation]] achieves the same effect, but with sound, while [[Plot Based Photograph Obfuscation]] does it with photographs. [[Censor Box]] is probably the closest equivalent in visual media. Compare to [[That Was the Last Entry]] and [[Apocalyptic Log]]. Subtrope of [[Lost in Transmission]].