Twisty Twists

[The Dark One]

If there’s a twist to be sure it’ll be in the marketing spiel! Especially if it’s kind of what makes the book. Surely that gets put in the query letter if an author aims for making the twist a major appeal to the book.

Every one of my novels has multiple twists and not once have I ever referred to that in an enquiry letter.

Partly because I've mainly done crime and twists are expected, but my historical and sci fi novels have twists also. I've only focussed on the premise when sending off enquiries.

 

[The Dark One]

I suppose I would find it strange that a major twist ‘that you didn’t see coming’ would only be found by chance when a publisher or agents looks at a manuscript, only to find out that a major element of the book is a good marketing point after they’ve already approved it.

Thing is... you can't market a book on it's major twist or everyone will be looking out for that and reading suspiciously. That does happen - a bit - in crime. But twists elsewhere are a pleasant surprise not to be spoiled by spoiler marketing.

 

[The Dark One]

Can I suggest also that writing a good twist that's hidden in plain sight requires a lot of skill.

It's all but inconceivable to me that a novel so poorly written as to be rejected after a couple of pages, could somehow have incorporated a masterful and memorable twist. With the proviso, of course, that taste is subjective and some excellent books willl be rejected by editors that should've known better.

 

[Finchbearer]

Yeah I mean anything about a book can be marketed and twists are certainly very marketable. I don’t know what agents and publishing teams are actually looking at when they say yay or nay to a book but certainly the ‘twisty’ novel is highly marketed.

Goodreads twisty fantasy
Booktok twists

And tons more that keep throwing the twist-porn at me!

 

[JBCrowson]

So, I think it is kind of a given that having great twists in a story is kind of a goal to itself. But I must say, I am not sure how many stories contain them, or how compelling they really are. Maybe in the mystery genre they matter more, but do they matter a whole lot? Do you find yourself holding back and sharing no secrets until its all written on the page and the readers can enjoy the surprise? Do you write with having a big twist in mind? Do you think stories need them? or might they just be for extra excitement? Is this a goal that one should aspire to....creating stories with great twisty stuff happening in them? And would it hurt a story, or an author, if they did not appear so often?

What do you think on writing twists into the story?

I try to do a mix of hints towards later reveals and laying things out. I think if everything is concealed readers will look harder and therefore find things before your reveal. If nothing is concealed it can work, but I think a lot of readers like to get to a point and be able to look back and say so that's why XYZ happened. As with everything balance is key.

 

[The Dark One]

I love comments from readers who're read one of my books more than once and say: "I was able to see - the second time through - how you put it all together... you sneaky bastard."

A bit like the Swede, I don't set out to do it but it always happens and there are a couple of tricks I've learned which are best applied in the editing phases - going back and covering your tracks, or making fake ones...

 

[Finchbearer]

- going back and covering your tracks, or making fake ones...

like a criminal

 

[The Dark One]

like a criminal

He who seeks to lead a devious life must learn to cover his tracks before he makes them...

 

[BrittleBones]

Good twists- or at least, unexpected dramatic moments, even if they wouldn't necessarily be considered 'twists'- are delivered best when there is a precedent against whatever you're setting up. Surprisingly, a two hour video essay on Mario Maker troll levels of all things taught me the nuance in fooling the reader. Understand the rules, manipulate the reader into accepting them, then break them when the time is right.

For example, if you want the death of a major character to be a surprise, sprinkle in a couple of moments earlier in the story- and I mean earlier, spread them out a bit for good measure- where you could kill off a character, even tease doing so, only to save them. Do it subtly, don't overdo it (or someone will expect you to break the pattern). The reader will come to 'understand' that character death is not a part of the story. That becomes part of the rules. Now you can break them for greater emotional impact.

 

[pmmg]

I too enjoy seeing that the stuff that was supposed to be surprising or revealing to the reader hit its mark. I am not sure my story has 'twists' per se, but more so, things that are looming nearby and being foreshadowed, for which, the the intention is the reader does not see it coming, and when it appears, its like...Oh...I should have known. Almost like we get in the Saw movies, where if you had listened, he was pretty much telling you what was coming, but you didn't pay attention. Are those twists? (Well, in Saw they are, but in my novels, they dont feel like twists, just stuff thats laying under the surface).

A few items have been ones I wanted to be surprising in a more direct way. Those I wrote with great care to say enough but not all, and have it sneak on by. My two test readers seemed to enjoy it. But...not many have read book 2 and 3 yet.

Ultimately, I dont feel I am aiming for twists, I just kind of write in a way that has an underlying current of events that are not apparent to the characters (or the readers), but are there anyway, if one wants to look for them.

 

[Jackarandajam]

I love a good twist, 10,000 points if it was foreshadowed right under my nose and I didn't catch it until after.
I'll never forget finishing of Mice and Men and realizing... well, if you've read it you know.
Setting up giant, foreshadowed twists is one of the things that obsesses me about writing. I have a fantasy WIP that I had to quit writing for a while because I got so lost and turned around trying to set up a giant twist ending. I need to get back into that one. If I ever finish it, it'll be breathtaking.