seiturilage

Seiturilage is a term that has emerged in discussions surrounding fictional character development and narrative consistency. It refers to the perceived tendency of a character's established traits, abilities, or motivations to be altered or ignored by the author in order to serve the immediate needs of the plot. This can manifest as a character suddenly acting out of character, possessing skills they have never demonstrated before, or having their past experiences disregarded for convenience.

The term itself is a portmanteau, combining "seit" from "seize" or "seizing," implying an author's forceful manipulation, and "tillage," suggesting the cultivation or shaping of a narrative. While not a formally recognized literary term, it is often used by fans and critics to describe instances where the internal logic of a story appears to be compromised for the sake of advancing a particular plot point or resolving a conflict in a way that feels unearned or inconsistent with the character's established persona.

Instances of seiturilage can lead to reader frustration, as they can break immersion and undermine the credibility of the narrative. It is often contrasted with organic character development, where changes in a character are depicted as a natural consequence of their experiences and internal growth. Identifying seiturilage requires a close understanding of a character's history and established parameters within the fictional world.