A plot twist is "a literary technique that introduces a radical change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot in a work of fiction."
(Thanks, Wikipedia!)
A plot twist disrupts a story, sending the readers in an entirely new direction.
Perhaps they thought they had your story figured out--the mystery solved--but some surprising new information has just been revealed and now the reader must reconsider everything they thought they knew about what is taking (or has taken) place.
M. Night Shyamalan has provided pop culture with some pretty epic twists.
I see dead people and guess what? You're one of them.
Also--
We are living in this 17th-century village, but now I must go on this quest and surprise! It's actually the 21st century. I do not have to churn butter. I could get in my car and drive to the grocery store if I had access to either.
A plot twist is one of the best ways to surprise your readers, so when you're plotting, look for ways to go against their expectations.
Once you have a twist in mind, make sure it's appropriately set up. A small amount of foreshadowing can go a long way in making a twist believable.
And finally, don't fall into the trap of thinking a plot twist must be this massive event or transformative revelation.
The most believable twists are the ones that are significant to our main character or storyline. They should operate as a natural progression of the story we're telling, and the reader should walk away thinking there was no other way for this plot to unfold.
When a reader opens the cover of your novel, they want to be taken for a ride.
Make it a memorable one.
Be Brilliant!
~Katie~
