Writing Prompt: Plot Twist! 😱
5/4 March Mini-Course: That Unexpected, Extra, Surprise Prompt
This is part of our March Mini-Course
Hey there, fellow writers!
You thought we were done, didn’t you?
Nope, there’s a sudden addition — a mini-course plot twist, if you will.
Maybe I’m the only one who didn’t realize there were five Fridays this month? Anyway, back to the prompt!
One best cliffhangers is the sudden twist. We all know those moments where we think the story is going to zig and suddenly zags and shout out:
Oh no, he didn’t!
But how can you make sure you’re doing it right? Here are some tips:
1. Build up the tension
Before you end a chapter with a sudden twist, make sure you’ve built up the tension enough. You want your readers to be invested in the story and the characters, so that when the twist comes, it hits them like a ton of bricks.
2. Foreshadowing is key
Foreshadowing is a great way to hint at what’s coming without giving the game away. Drop subtle hints throughout the chapter that something big is about to happen, so that when the twist comes, your readers will have that “aha!” moment.
3. Timing is everything
Ending a chapter with a sudden twist is all about timing. Make sure you’re ending the chapter at the right moment, when the tension is at its highest. You want to leave your readers wanting more, but not feeling like you’ve cheated them out of a satisfying conclusion.
4. Make it unexpected
The twist you end the chapter with should be unexpected, but not so out of left field that it feels like it doesn’t belong. Think about what your readers will be expecting to happen and then subvert those expectations in a way that makes sense for your story.
5. Follow through
When you do end the chapter with a sudden twist, make sure you follow through on the consequences in the next chapter. Don’t leave your readers hanging for too long and make sure the twist has real consequences for your characters and your story.
So, fellow writers, there you have it — ending a chapter with a sudden twist is a great way to keep your readers hooked.
But remember, it’s all about timing, foreshadowing, and following through.
Happy writing!
300 words for the story bits.
Tag your story as you like, e.g. Fiction or Flash Fiction
But don’t use Writing Prompts please.🙏 link back to the prompt so others can find it too.
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This post was rapidly written by ChatGPT impersonating a ghost writer hired to imitate my style from a single example I shared with it and a few brief pointers.