Home
About
Chapter One
Contact
Free Stories
Helpful Resources
I, Sherwood
My Books
My Videos
Resurrection Train
Announcements and Shameless Plugs
Book Reviews
Celebrabrations and Shoutouts
Guest posts
Reading
Vlogs
Free Stories I, Sherwood Resurrection Train
Posted by storymonger on Sep 24, 2015 in Plot | 18 comments
Plot twists. Every writer wants them. No matter what genre we’re writing, we all want that breathtaking twist that makes our reader’s jaws drop right off and fall to the floor, because they never saw that coming. And then keeps them turning pages until far into the wee hours of the morning. (In the hospital, while they wait for their jaw to be surgically reattached.)
A common tactic for writing plot twists is to try to imagine the most far-out, impossible event that could happen to a story, and then try to mash it in somewhere.
In my opinion, this is often a bad idea that leads to confusing plots and un-organic character development. A plot twist that is forced into a story simply to surprise the reader will often only frustrate your reader. Their jaws will remain affixed to their skulls, and they quite probably will choose getting a good night’s sleep over finishing your novel.
Here are three secrets to writing great plot twists:
It doesn’t matter how twisty your plot twist is, if it doesn’t effect your characters, it will seem shallow and forced. A good plot twist should have the same effect on your characters that you want it to have on the readers—it should pull the rug out from under their feet. It should rock their world. It should raise stakes. It should change their perception of a situation or the world around them.
If the plot twist makes a realistic, soul-changing impact on these characters that your readers have come to love and care about through the course of your story, it will make an impact on the readers.
This seems like it would be somewhat of a no-brainer, right? I mean, yeah, that’s what plot twists do.
But in so many stories I read, the main plot twist has no real impact on how the story ends. Oh, so the aliens are actually being controlled by the disembodied brain of an evil scientist from earth? Wow, that’ll completely change things, won’t it?
Well, nope. The good guys have to work a little harder, but in the end it doesn’t really matter. The bad guys get defeated and the story ends just the same as it would have. This is the sign of a weak plot twist that was contrived simply for the sake of having one.
The main plot twist of a story should have consequences that effect the outcome of everything that happens after it. Maybe some bad consequences. Maybe some good consequences. But at the end of the story, things should be different because of it. That’s how life works, and stories should be no different in this regard.
And this leads me right into my next point:
How the plot twist changes things for the story world and the characters is really the true power of the twist.
Guess what—there are people who are going to guess your plot twist before it happens. Sometimes just a few people. Sometimes a lot of people. And you know what, that’s okay.
Because the exciting part of a good plot twist is the way the characters react from it. What they do after that huge, world-changing plot twist you threw in their path should show us something about them. It should surprise us. It should show us a new facet of their character that we have never seen before, and send them in a new direction.
Your readers may be excited at the new direction, and rooting harder for the characters. They may be horrified, and saying NOOO DON’T GO THERE. Whatever feelz your plot twist socked ’em with, they should be captivated and glued to that page harder than ever before, because they are invested in these characters, and they want to find out what happened to them.
Most plot twists have at least some measure of predictability. Your characters’ reactions to those plot twists should be unpredictable, and raise your story to new heights of intrigue and excitement.
What are some of your favorite plot twists in books or movies, and why? What are some of the ones that totally fell flat for you, and why did they fall flat? Let’s talk about it in the comments below.
christiannahellwig September 24, 2015 Excellent Post. I could relate with all of your instances and I struggle with them constantly in my story. Do you know, I think in the Scriptures the incarnation and the crucifixion are great examples of good plot twists. God coming to earth as a baby, to poor parents and living the first thirty years of His life in obscurity, then allowing Himself to be killed just as He was really beginning to get popular, a week after He was ushered into the city by a cheering throng and palm branches. Completely absurd and unexpected, and yet it changed the course of history, forever, the implications and people’s varied responses to that event were and are epic. Other than that, I just love the plot twist at the very end of “The Return of The King” by Tolkien when Gaullum takes the ring from Frodo, it was already bad enough with Frodo deciding not to throw it into the inferno, now here comes this greedy, filthy, despicable character who is certainly never going to destroy it and snatches away victory right at the very end. And yet without his doing that the whole story would have been ruined. A very artful plot twist if I may say so myself! But, I hope I haven’t gone on too long. You see you just hit on one of my passions when it comes to writing good stories. I can’t stand crumby plot twists! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Reply Kaitlyn September 24, 2015 I was going to mention the same plot twist. It’s my all-time favorite. Reply storymonger September 25, 2015 The Bible is full of great plot twists! As is LOTR. Love all those. Reply
Excellent Post. I could relate with all of your instances and I struggle with them constantly in my story. Do you know, I think in the Scriptures the incarnation and the crucifixion are great examples of good plot twists. God coming to earth as a baby, to poor parents and living the first thirty years of His life in obscurity, then allowing Himself to be killed just as He was really beginning to get popular, a week after He was ushered into the city by a cheering throng and palm branches. Completely absurd and unexpected, and yet it changed the course of history, forever, the implications and people’s varied responses to that event were and are epic. Other than that, I just love the plot twist at the very end of “The Return of The King” by Tolkien when Gaullum takes the ring from Frodo, it was already bad enough with Frodo deciding not to throw it into the inferno, now here comes this greedy, filthy, despicable character who is certainly never going to destroy it and snatches away victory right at the very end. And yet without his doing that the whole story would have been ruined. A very artful plot twist if I may say so myself! But, I hope I haven’t gone on too long. You see you just hit on one of my passions when it comes to writing good stories. I can’t stand crumby plot twists! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Kaitlyn September 24, 2015 I was going to mention the same plot twist. It’s my all-time favorite. Reply
I was going to mention the same plot twist. It’s my all-time favorite.
storymonger September 25, 2015 The Bible is full of great plot twists! As is LOTR. Love all those. Reply
The Bible is full of great plot twists! As is LOTR. Love all those.
Emily Tjaden September 24, 2015 Fantastic post! I love how you put this concept. Very well said! I completely agree that it’s the characters’ reactions that make or break a good plot twist. I personally like the plot twist in Star Wars when Luke finds out Darth Vader’s true identity. It has a huge impact on his actions for the rest of the series, and directly influences his decision on how to face the Emperor. The one mentioned above in Return of the King is good also. One of the plot twists that fell unbelievably flat to me was the ending of The Maze Runner. I have a thing against that entire story, because I felt like they were trying to be too original with it, and create plot twists for the sake of plot twists, rather than for the sake of the characters. It pretty much felt like they picked the most extreme thing that could’ve happened and threw it in at the end, like, “Oh you just escaped a maze filled with man-eating machines; have some zombies.” It felt more like a video game level-up than a plot twist. And it sucked. I really love how you stressed that most plot twists, are, in some form, predictable. Because it’s true. (Unless they make absolutely no sense to the plot whatsoever.) Thanks for sharing this. I’ll be passing it on. (: Reply storymonger September 25, 2015 You know, I try not to think about Maze Runner too often, but it is an EXCELLENT example of how to ruin a good story with contrived, weak plot twists. Grraaargh. Kill the sequels. Kill them with fire. And zombies. Reply Emily Tjaden September 29, 2015 Heh, same here. It is a blot upon the world of literature. Reply
Fantastic post! I love how you put this concept. Very well said! I completely agree that it’s the characters’ reactions that make or break a good plot twist.
I personally like the plot twist in Star Wars when Luke finds out Darth Vader’s true identity. It has a huge impact on his actions for the rest of the series, and directly influences his decision on how to face the Emperor. The one mentioned above in Return of the King is good also.
One of the plot twists that fell unbelievably flat to me was the ending of The Maze Runner. I have a thing against that entire story, because I felt like they were trying to be too original with it, and create plot twists for the sake of plot twists, rather than for the sake of the characters. It pretty much felt like they picked the most extreme thing that could’ve happened and threw it in at the end, like, “Oh you just escaped a maze filled with man-eating machines; have some zombies.” It felt more like a video game level-up than a plot twist. And it sucked.
I really love how you stressed that most plot twists, are, in some form, predictable. Because it’s true. (Unless they make absolutely no sense to the plot whatsoever.)
Thanks for sharing this. I’ll be passing it on. (:
storymonger September 25, 2015 You know, I try not to think about Maze Runner too often, but it is an EXCELLENT example of how to ruin a good story with contrived, weak plot twists. Grraaargh. Kill the sequels. Kill them with fire. And zombies. Reply Emily Tjaden September 29, 2015 Heh, same here. It is a blot upon the world of literature. Reply
You know, I try not to think about Maze Runner too often, but it is an EXCELLENT example of how to ruin a good story with contrived, weak plot twists. Grraaargh. Kill the sequels. Kill them with fire. And zombies.
Emily Tjaden September 29, 2015 Heh, same here. It is a blot upon the world of literature. Reply
Heh, same here. It is a blot upon the world of literature.
K.M. Weiland September 24, 2015 Nice. These are all so easily overlooked. We tend to think plot twists are all about fooling readers, but the bottom line is always: does it *matter* to the story. If it doesn’t, it’s a gimmick. Always. Reply storymonger September 25, 2015 Yep! And those darn readers, they’re so smart when it comes to gimmicks. Reply
Nice. These are all so easily overlooked. We tend to think plot twists are all about fooling readers, but the bottom line is always: does it *matter* to the story. If it doesn’t, it’s a gimmick. Always.
storymonger September 25, 2015 Yep! And those darn readers, they’re so smart when it comes to gimmicks. Reply
Yep! And those darn readers, they’re so smart when it comes to gimmicks.
Emmarayn Redding September 24, 2015 Great points! Inspiring, really. Now all I’ve got to do is actually pull it off…. *dons battle armor* Reply storymonger September 25, 2015 Have fun storming the castle! 😀 Reply
Great points! Inspiring, really. Now all I’ve got to do is actually pull it off…. *dons battle armor*
storymonger September 25, 2015 Have fun storming the castle! 😀 Reply
Have fun storming the castle! 😀
CJ September 24, 2015 How many times have I critiqued novels with bad, confusing, and far too many random plot twists. Me? Naw, I never did that. *cough cough* or I’ve conveniently forgotten about those novels. I’ve always been uncertain about my plots in general. However, I will never forget the moment when I re-read a draft of my novel that I had forgotten about, and realized that a sub-plot twist was the most fantastic thing ever. There was one moment where I managed to succeed, even if it’s quite possibly the only one. As much as I’d like to, it’s extremely difficult to recreate those moment and pieces of writing. Reply storymonger September 25, 2015 That will get easier with practice, believe it or not! The length of time between those moments will get shorter and shorter. That’s what I hear, anyway. I’m still waiting for it to happen to me. 😉 Reply
How many times have I critiqued novels with bad, confusing, and far too many random plot twists. Me? Naw, I never did that. *cough cough* or I’ve conveniently forgotten about those novels.
I’ve always been uncertain about my plots in general. However, I will never forget the moment when I re-read a draft of my novel that I had forgotten about, and realized that a sub-plot twist was the most fantastic thing ever. There was one moment where I managed to succeed, even if it’s quite possibly the only one.
As much as I’d like to, it’s extremely difficult to recreate those moment and pieces of writing.
storymonger September 25, 2015 That will get easier with practice, believe it or not! The length of time between those moments will get shorter and shorter. That’s what I hear, anyway. I’m still waiting for it to happen to me. 😉 Reply
That will get easier with practice, believe it or not! The length of time between those moments will get shorter and shorter. That’s what I hear, anyway. I’m still waiting for it to happen to me. 😉
Lyn September 24, 2015 Excellent post, Braden. It’s all very well to say, “What if…” and get all excited about a mind blowing twist, but if it doesn’t render your MC helpless or send them into shock (albeit temporarily) it probably isn’t worth worrying about. I think I’d add another point too — don’t throw in the twist too soon, or even hint about it. I’m going to have to rework part of my MS because I’ve done exactly that and I wouldn’t have picked it up if I hadn’t read your post, so thank you very much my friend Reply storymonger September 25, 2015 Thanks, Lyn! And yes, exactly. Twists are like knockout punches–you have to hold them back until the right time. Yay, glad it helped ya. Reply
Excellent post, Braden. It’s all very well to say, “What if…” and get all excited about a mind blowing twist, but if it doesn’t render your MC helpless or send them into shock (albeit temporarily) it probably isn’t worth worrying about. I think I’d add another point too — don’t throw in the twist too soon, or even hint about it. I’m going to have to rework part of my MS because I’ve done exactly that and I wouldn’t have picked it up if I hadn’t read your post, so thank you very much my friend
storymonger September 25, 2015 Thanks, Lyn! And yes, exactly. Twists are like knockout punches–you have to hold them back until the right time. Yay, glad it helped ya. Reply
Thanks, Lyn! And yes, exactly. Twists are like knockout punches–you have to hold them back until the right time. Yay, glad it helped ya.
ladyelasa September 25, 2015 I’ve never thought of plot twists like this. This is really cool! Thank you! 😀 storitorigrace.blogspot.com Reply storymonger September 25, 2015 Sure thing! Reply
I’ve never thought of plot twists like this. This is really cool! Thank you! 😀
storitorigrace.blogspot.com
storymonger September 25, 2015 Sure thing! Reply
Sure thing!
Hannah September 25, 2015 Very helpful! I definitely needed to read this while I am re-plotting my new book. I have the problem you mentioned in the first part of point number 2. I never want any of my plot twists to hurt or even change my characters . . . But I guess if they did get hurt or had something bad happen to them it would be a better plot twist. Reply
Very helpful! I definitely needed to read this while I am re-plotting my new book. I have the problem you mentioned in the first part of point number 2. I never want any of my plot twists to hurt or even change my characters . . . But I guess if they did get hurt or had something bad happen to them it would be a better plot twist.
H.M. Wilson @ Plottinger Twist September 28, 2015 Hmm… Good food for thought! It’s easy to forget that the twist is intended to change the course of the story AND should directly impact the characters. When you explained the plot twist in detail, The Great Gatsby instantly came to mind. When Gatsby ends up taking the blame for Daisy’s driving, it REALLY changes the course of the story & affects Nick. Reply
Hmm… Good food for thought! It’s easy to forget that the twist is intended to change the course of the story AND should directly impact the characters.
When you explained the plot twist in detail, The Great Gatsby instantly came to mind. When Gatsby ends up taking the blame for Daisy’s driving, it REALLY changes the course of the story & affects Nick.
youtube
googleplus
On Failure and Batman – a guest post by Katherine Rebekah
Check Out My New Short Film! And an Interview Thing
The Firewall Saga is Launched! (A somewhat belated announcement)
A Peek at My Upcoming Web Serial
More Dangers of Homeschooling
Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress