
Plot Twist

your short story you might be thinking
about where to take it. How to finish
it with impact…

lasting impression...

looking exactly how you originally
mapped it out. For others, it may have
taken a different direction to what you
originally intended –
both are perfectly fine!

finish your story with a plot twist –
an unexpected development of events.

You grab attention with your
introduction, you draw on your
readers’ empathy for your
characters as the story progresses
and you finish with something
they didn’t expect.

remembered long after the last
word is read.

you will likely be building what is
known as suspense. Both go
hand in hand – in fact, you could say
that they need each other.

excited or anxious uncertainty about
what may happen.

story and see if you can identify an
area where you hinted at something
that might happen, and build on that.

that the reader might be uncertain
about? Has someone made a remark
that alludes to a deeper meaning or
something that’s happened in the past –
something that may impact the future?

needs… Not every story needs
suspense but those who are working
up to a plot twist will certainly
benefit from it.

suspense…
“He told me if I ever talked about
what happened it would change
everything…”

As they crept around the side of the
old house the feeling of dread intensified.
They knew they shouldn’t have gone
there, especially after dark. Suddenly,
a loud shrieking noise filled the skies
and Maria knew that the feeling of
regret would never leave her…

example. You will notice that the second
version is a lot easier and quicker to read,
despite the fact that it doesn’t actually
use fewer words…

old house the feeling of dread
intensified. They knew they shouldn’t
have gone there, especially after dark.
“Whose idea was this anyway?” Mark
asked, unable to hide
the fear in his voice.

what happened it would change
everything,” said Maria,
preoccupied by herown thoughts.
“But he didn’t say I couldn’t
show you…”
Suddenly, a loud shrieking
noise filled the skies and Maria knew
that the feeling of regret would
never leave her…

building of suspense – so long as you
have your plot twist well thought out.

well together you need to have the
reader hooked. Once you have, you
can deliver your plot twist in just a
couple of lines.

died turn up? Does the person the
reader believed to have committed the
crime turn out to be wrongfully accused?
Does the reader find out that the main
character’s brother is adopted?

complete surprise you have
succeeded in carrying it off.

reader from guessing beforehand!
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