Plot & structure · Tip 28 of 82 · 4 min read
Plot Twists: Surprise Your Reader
Learn how to hide clues and flip your story upside down at just the right moment.
A plot twist is a big surprise that changes how the reader sees the whole story. When a twist is done well, readers say, "WHAT?! I didn't see that coming!"
Kinds of twists
- Someone isn't who they seem: the kind old shopkeeper is actually the thief.
- Something isn't what it seems: the "monster" in the attic is just a lost owl.
- The narrator isn't who you think: the story is told by the family dog!
- The goal changes: the treasure was never gold. It was the friends they made.
Plant secret clues
A good twist isn't totally random. Writers hide small clues earlier in the story. Readers don't notice them the first time, but afterwards they think, "Oh! The clues were there all along!"
Clue 1: "My best friend Max never comes inside. He always waits on the doorstep." Clue 2: "Max loves it when I throw sticks for him." Twist: "Max wagged his tail and licked my face. He's the best dog in the world."
In this example, the reader thinks Max is a boy. The clues (staying outside, chasing sticks) make sense once you know he's a dog!