《How to Write Stories People Will Love》Question 3: Plot twists
Advertisement
asks: "How about plot twists? A good story always has a few plot twists to keep readers interested."
Plot twists are excellent for elevating a story from "interesting" to "Wow, I did not see that coming. Cool!" It makes the story memorable. Sometimes even mind-bending. In the movie, The Matrix, it took me several long moments to wrap my head around the fact that he wasn't actually a normal guy living his life in a normal world.
Maybe the reader suspects a twist is coming up, but when it surprises them anyway, the implementation was successful.
When Neo in The Matrix discovers what his reality really is, it launches the story in a whole different direction!
Readers become emotionally invested in the characters they read about. They care what happens to them. When you lead a character through so much turmoil and sorrow and triumph, and then they suddenly wake up and the entire story turned out to be a dream, the reader feels cheated. It's a plot twist, yes, but not one a reader will particularly like. Because none of it actually happened in the story. I've seen movies like this, and I usually come away thinking, "Well that was stupid." I felt cheated for being led through an entire plot that didn't actually happen. (As always, there are exceptions. Because exceptional authors know how to do it right.)
Start with something "normal". Maybe even predictable. For example, a new student at a school for vampires. People have seen this kind of story before, and think they know what's going to happen next.
Don't make hints about the plot twist too obvious. Maybe the clues can be subtle. For example, the new student puts up a poster of idyllic woods and bright sunshine. Or maybe the clues can be buried amid other details. For example, she unpacks her clothes, her toiletries, and a box of granola bars.
Advertisement
The fun of a plot twist is when tensions are high, BAM! Things weren't what you thought they were! On the other hand, if it gets revealed in a flippant oh-by-the-way manner, it falls flat. In our example, an exciting way to reveal it could be her best vampire friend is somehow stuck outside at dawn, with the sun threatening to turn him into ash. The main character must do something in the sunlight to save her friend. So after much angst and worry, she just does it. Runs into the sunlight, toward the shade where her friend is cowering. And nothing happens to her. The sun doesn't hurt her at all. Could she not be a vampire after all??
You can have more than one twist. Now that we're on this path, think about what the reader might expect now. Maybe now we think the main character is human, or a vampire who is immune to the sun, or maybe she just found some really good sunblock. Think of what kinds of cliches you could still fall into and avoid them. For example, a cliche might be to make her fall in love with the guy, and she decides she wants to be a vampire now, and oh no it's Twilight all over again. Try to come up with something unexpected. Like, maybe she does fall in love with the guy, and they're making out one night, and the moon is all romantic and full... and she turns into a werewolf! Whaaaat? Plot twist!
See how that works? It takes a certain awareness of reader expectations, and what has been done already. This is yet another reason to read a lot. Watching a lot of movies helps too.
Advertisement
The Power of Systems
And—he’s dead. Ryan, a 5’11” young man died. Sadly, he couldn't be put at rest just yet. To his utter surprise, he’s reincarnated in a new world, but not as a baby. Ryan’s body is still in the same condition from before he was killed! What a lucky day! This courageous young man finds himself in a new world full of kingdoms, adventurers, and mysterious magical creatures, but he doesn’t quake in fear. He faces it head on like a classic hero from stories! How will this adventure continue? Well, something important ends up happening within the first few minutes of his reincarnation in a new world. He dies to a petty goblin, unlike how one thought the events would flow. His luck with surviving things unscathed is not so great, but with some help from an unknown power, he will prevail over all! In the near future, It’s very possible that this power will also allow him to control everything from behind the scenes. Taking over kingdoms with thought out plans, fake identities and most important of all… overwhelming strength! Check out “The Power of Systems” today!
8 257The Sword. The Shield. The Diamond. (Steven Universe SI)
A teenager finds himself in Steven Universe's body with no idea what's going on. One thing he does know though, he isn't a pacifist like the original Steven, and he's not going to act like one. The corrupted gems. The monsters. The Diamonds. It doesn't matter who it is, the new Steven won't let anyone get in his way. But...what does this new Steven want? SI!Steven / Harem / OP
8 139The Hidden Blade
Mordred's developed a nasty habit of getting killed and reborn in the Virtual World known as Avalon. Honestly, Lifeline Mode can be such a bitch! In each life, he gets a reset and another chance to save Lancelot from being betrayed and killed by the Knights of the Round Table. They claimed that Lancelot's deep, dark secret - screwing Queen Guinnevere, caused a massive civil war that effectively screwed Avalon too. Truth is, Lancelot did have HER deep, dark secret. That SHE was probably the only woman in the world who wasn't into other women. After literally lifetimes of reliving and dying in the same damn cycle, Mordred's done playing nice. Screw trying to persuade the Knights of the Round Table Lancelot didn't swing that way. This isn’t a story about becoming a hero amongst heroes. This is a story about becoming a villain, so that a hero amongst heroes stays a hero. _____________ Cover Image credit: assassin__s_creed_ix_by_remussirion-d4ecbhf
8 218Homunculi: 6
A powerful family desperate to maintain its position at any cost meddles in the domain of the divine by designing and developing a new race called Homunculi. These creations are honed into brutal weapons to fuel their grand ambitions and keep their secrets hidden.Fresh eyes take in this world as a new Homunculus awakens. Its conditioning and training take an unexpected twist as it develops abilities and skills different from the others of its kind. -------------------- Surrounded by manufactured warriors who are incredibly powerful from day one, our MC will find himself lacking in innate skills and knowledge. Very much a weak to strong story. There is definitely action and adventure within, but expect a slow start that is focused on character growth, building tension, unraveling conspiracies, while learning about a new magical world. Some cooking and some daydreaming within. (I see you slice of life) --------- WIP art by Katie Z.
8 291KA THINLUNG HMUTU SEASON 1 (Complete)
he story hi 2021 a Facebook Gayrobawm a ka ziah min tawn leh ka suangtuahna in kawp a ka ziah chhuah ani e..
8 90My only hope (Beast Adam x reader)
The reader is Belle's younger sister. She moved out of Villeneuve to get away from the small town. She now lives in Paris. And once every month the reader comes to visit but on the way their she gets lost and gets attacked by wolves. Then Adam saves her and takes care of her. But she doesn't even know who he is. Adam and the reader were best friends. So will the reader remember who Adam is before the last petal falls or will the reader never remember and Adam is doomed to remain a beast forever? Read the book and find out.
8 227