You've made it to page two hundred of a three hundred book. The major plot points are resolved, the characters successful. The world is safe and the villain imprisoned. Everything is all set up for a happy ending, but you know by that chunk of pages left in your right hand that it's deceptive, that something is amiss. Anxiously you wait for the reveal, the kickoff to the climax and finally-!
One hero betrays the others.
The revelation jarred you out of reading and you had to set the book down to process. Suddenly so many things make sense and as you look back on the rest of the book, you see things now that didn't make sense before. The lead up.
Hello everyone and welcome to another Friday article! After a long work week I'm honored to be able to invite you into my Homestead and give you rest. Here's a weighted blanket and some hot tea. Settle in as we discussed how to make any plot twist shock your readers.
There are many types of plot twists in books today and not all of them occur before the climax of the book. Plot twists are the most essential tool for keeping your readers on their toes. It adds a level of excitement when your reader expects one thing and gets another, but this trick must be used judiciously. Too many plot twists can make your writing seem chaotic and confusing. Plot twists, like communication, is a circle. An action occurs, the book transmits it to the reader, the reader receives it, then keeps reading. If you move on too quickly, or don't follow through on a plot twist it can confuse your readers. Don't leave your readers behind, they want to love the story! A recent book I'm enjoying, Powerless by Lauren Roberts, does an excellent job of giving the reader expectations and twisting them on their head in the first 50 pages. Spoilers ahead. For those who haven't read it and want to avoid spoilers skip to the all caps below. Kai Azer is portrayed as a stone cold executioner with no feelings of sympathy for his victims. He's depicted as having a strong moral compass and enjoys bringing justice to criminals. One of his introduction scenes is going to take an Ordinary from her family and kill her for not having magic, as is their law. The little girl accepts her fate and Lauren Roberts builds tension until the moment the dagger comes down. And the ropes fall loose from the girl. This plot twist expertly intertwines what we know about Kai with what we are still learning. It tells us that although we know the executioner, there is a character underneath that is still human. Let's dissect what Lauren Roberts did.
Our first impression of Kai was clearly given to us. There is no second guessing and he leads with his blades. Everything Lauren showed us supported this idea. When Kai took the little girl, we expected to see him ruthlessly dispose of her, but he spared her. Why? Characters, like us, are full of contradictions and opposites. This is what creates the internal conflict that drives the story. Kai knows he has a job to do, but he can't hurt a child. [SPOILERS ENDED] This makes the reader think and thinking is the highest compliment a reader can give you. Good writing will stay with you. It'll invade your thoughts when you hear a phrase, it'll come back months later as a memory. This is why we write plot twists, to keep the reader engaged and keep the plot unpredictable. A predictable book is an unfinished book. Your goal as a writer is to create conversation. Make the readers so excited that they buzz and tell everyone they meet “You have to read this book!” Because that will boost sales and increase popularity. The ultimate goal of writers isn't who can sell the most books, but who can touch the most lives. That's why you want to keep the reader engaged and drooling over your writing. And the best way to do that is through plot twists.
Thank you for making it this far! Next week will be another special article as we take a deep dive into the second of the three protagonists of The King's Actors, Ava Charlie Evans, the child actress whose deepest desire is to be loved. I can't wait to see you there and until then, stay tuned!
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