When writing mystery novels or crime thrillers everyone knows it’s all about the plot twist. It’s the key element that turns the book into a big success. However, writing a plot twist can be complicated and stressful, so we’ve created a guideline with the best tips on how to write a good and compelling plot twist.
1. Work backward: Plot twists work best when you plan them backward. Think of a crazy plot twist and see how you can complicate it as your work your way to the start. By using this technique you can hide the twist in plain sight and also make it very plausible. It’s also important to do this because a twist that just comes out of nowhere is a cheap twist. Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones have used this technique to help create shocking cliffhangers.
2. Get into the mindset of the reader: once you know what your twist is, try to write from the mindset of someone who is looking for a plot twist. In doing so you will be able to manipulate the reader and misdirect them away from the twist.
3. Layer the plot twist: use mini plot twists and subplots as a way to hide the main twist. People love hunting for the plot twist, the more elaborate your subplots are the more impacting your main twist will be.
4. Focus the twist on the characters, not just the action: twists cause shocks when you see how they affect the characters, not just the action. Betrayal and heartbreak are powerful tools, the impact of the twist is all about emotions.
5. Fake clues are your friend: think of clever fake clue you can naturally slip into the story without people realizing it’s a diversion. Maybe try to make the reader suspicious of several other characters. Use fake clues to make your story more complex but avoid building up to something you can’t deliver.
6. Show the consequences of the twist: twists don’t just have to come at the end, they’re not always the climax and even if they were it’s not where you should end the conflict. The effectiveness of the twist is also determined by the consequences it brings. How does this twist affect the resolution of the problem? Use the twist as a way to make the actual ending unpredictable. In Gone Girl, for example, the plot twist changed the storyline completely, suddenly it wasn’t about finding Amy but seeing how they were going to save Nick.
We hope you found this useful. However if you want to investigate how best to write a plot twist we recommend looking into Gillian Flynn’s work, which you can find right here www.mediagemm.com.
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