How to Write a Shocking Plot Twist
By Jacklyn Walters
So much of what we read these days is derivative; tired storylines and played-out tropes.
That’s what makes writing a fantasy novel so difficult. How do you bring something new to a genre that has existed for centuries? The magic lies in harnessing your inspirations without simply churning out the same old story. A great way to do this is with a perfectly placed plot twist.
New authors often struggle with how to write a plot twist. And there’s an extra special art to writing a shocking plot twist. Something that will truly stop your readers in their tracks needs to be nuanced, integral to the plot, and developed throughout the entirety of the story.
Sound like a lot to keep in mind? Don’t worry, we’ve condensed everything into 4 simple tips for fantasy writers looking to knock their readers’ booklights right off the page.
1. Make It Surprising, but Logical
The best fantasy book twists are the ones you didn’t see coming. Then on your second read-through, you notice every breadcrumb along the way. These plot twists aren’t just fodder for tiktok rants; they’re significant parts of the story.
Think of your novel as a giant friendship bracelet. Every knot you make is part of an intricate pattern. Every sentence begins, follows, or ends a thread in your tale. Some are red herrings (we’ll come back to these later). Some are the core of your storytelling. And some are like that one gold strand you snuck into the bracelet that you only notice when it catches the light. You don’t understand its importance until you know it’s there, but that’s the thread that’s going to tie everything together.
This is why you must foreshadow your plot twist. Without foreshadowing, you’re going to leave readers confused, not shocked. Your plot twist is the moment when readers step back and realize all of the threads you’ve carefully woven weren’t standalone knots, but individual pieces of a grand design.
How To Do It:
→ Start at the end. Know what your plot twist is and work backwards to decide what hints to give readers along the way.
2. Subtlety Is Everything
A good story is entertaining. A great story is nuanced.
This is where most new authors come up short. You’re so excited about the world you’re creating that you let your first draft stay underdeveloped. The point of the first draft is to get all of your thoughts on the page. So run wild and free and clumsily through your new world! But don’t get so attached to each of your beautiful sentences that you can’t see the forest for the trees.
Discernment is key. We’ve all been there—so proud of our elegant phrasing that we don’t want to cut anything out. My best (and most brutal) editor once said: “This is a beautiful sentence. You don’t need it.” Then she deleted it. As simple as that, my carefully crafted words would never see the light of day. And my piece was better for it.
When you edit your first draft, look for those breadcrumbs you left. Ask yourself: Am I saying this too bluntly? Can I make this softer? Is there a more sophisticated way to convey this message?
Your plot twist should be obvious to readers, but only after they know what the twist is. If it’s obvious too early you’ve ruined the surprise. The hints you leave should be subtle. They should be intellectual. They should be “There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”
How To Do It:
→ Consider foreshadowing vs. spoiling. Don’t come straight out and tell your readers what you want them to know. Show them. Assume that your audience is smart enough to pick up on the careful clues you’re laying out for them.
3. Guide Attention Elsewhere
The art of deception cannot be overstated.
Think of your favorite mystery. Whether Agatha Christie, “Knives Out,” or an episode of “Scooby Doo,” the thing about mysteries is that we want to think we know whodunnit. And while we desperately want to be right, we also kind of want to be wrong.
This is the beauty of red herrings. They build suspense. That jaw-dropping reveal doesn’t happen unless we’re a little distracted along the way. When we’re busy watching our MC interrogate a suspect, we won’t notice the real monster walking by carrying a body bag.
Which brings us to our next trick: place the evidence in the background. It’s a super murdery magazine lying on the villain’s coffee table. The shoes covered with blood droplets in the corner of the bedroom. The key is to make sure those elements have a real reason to be there so they’re native to the space. That way, readers will skim right over the evidence you’ve placed right under their noses.
Misdirection is the reason mysteries enthrall us. It’s a great way to keep your clues from being too out in the open.
How To Do It:
→ Drop a clue to foreshadow your plot twist, but make sure your MC is already in the midst of chaos, conversation, or a critical part of the storyline. Then readers won’t linger on the slightly out-of-place hint you just dropped. Their attention is deep in the situation at play.
4. Raise the Stakes
We often think of plot twists as the big reveal. The moment of relief in the final battle. The solution you never saw coming.
What if your plot twist didn’t simplify your story, but elevated it? Take your story somewhere even you didn’t see coming by using a plot twist to increase tension instead of resolve it.
Don’t take your readers on a walk. When people pick up your fantasy novel, you don’t want them to just have a pleasant, calm time. You want their heart to race, their mind to reel, their core to—forget that part.
Take your readers on a quest. Quests have peaks and valleys. Quests have dragons. Quests have riddles. Quests have twists and turns. Plot twists and turns. Quests raise the stakes.
Just when readers think they know where you’re headed, take a sharp turn. Consider, what’s the worst that could happen? Then do that.
How To Do It:
→ Instead of using a plot twist as the resolution, use it as the climax. Place a juicy switch-up right in the midst of the action and lead your readers down a path they never knew existed.
Other Things to Consider
1. Timing
Choose the proper moment for your reveal. This will depend on the underlying strategy for the twist: Do you want to keep people reading this book? Set up the next in a series? Use small plot twists throughout your story to distract from what’s really coming?
Deciding when readers get to know the truth is just as important as what that truth actually is. A good rule of thumb is to wait until the last possible second to let them in on the secret. Show your hand too early and you’re bound to leave readers disappointed or even bored.
2. Who are you trying to surprise?
Is it just the audience? Certain characters? The entire realm?
The characters who are in on the secret matter. This helps determine who you’re trying to surprise and how to best set them up for a truly shocking reveal. Plus, character-driven plot twists are so special. When the twist is known by one character but not others, you can let them do the work for you.
3. Pacing
Pace yourself. The pacing of your story is crucial to building up to the big reveal.
Is this a slow burn or a page turner? Do you want the twist to come out of left field? Do you want to get your reader’s heart racing right before the shoe drops? The pace of the story overall massively impacts how readers receive your plot twist. So pay attention to this throughout your novel, not just in the moments leading up to your reveal.
4. Don’t Drop the Plot
When you’re writing a plot twist, you have two stories to tell at once: the story your readers think they’re following, and the one you’re actually leading them toward. Make sure both stories are complete while you’re weaving them together.
If you’re working on building a loyal fan base, you’re simultaneously creating a community of your biggest critics. And they’re going to notice a plot hole. Have characters say one thing but act on something else. Have them disappear for a spell. Have them write a letter that no one knows the contents of. No matter what you do, make sure their actions make sense in the context of both of your narratives.
5. Consider Your Own Favorite Twists
The best place to get fantasy plot twist ideas is from the stories you know and love. Or, honestly, even the ones you hate.
You want your own storytelling to be unique. And the best way to create something new is to critique what’s tried and true. Consider the tropes of the genre, the standout works, and the gaps that you can leverage to make something truly fresh.
When you’re feeling stuck, read. Read books you love and see what makes them so special. Read books you hate and vow to learn from their mistakes.
Plot twists aren’t just cheap ways to keep people reading. They’re literary devices meant to elevate your storyline. Believe in yourself, believe in your story, and everything will go according to plan… after a good twist or two.