How to Write a Plot Twist

[@jimschuler8830]

Plot twists in movies are much easier to pull off than in books. Movies are surprisingly subtle things. There are so many distractions in a scene that you can slip in "blue skies on Mars" into background chatter and people won't notice on their first, second, or even third viewing. With a book, however, at some point every word will have the reader's undivided attention. If properly set up, the author must, therefore, have a certain expectation the reader will catch on before the reveal.

[@Reedsy]

This is very true!

[@sophiemcdoogal6691]

The best plot twists create two stories. The first viewing and the second, being completely different. Because that second viewing has foresight so you begin to see all the little hints and clues and watch the pieces fall into place. Personally I am great at predicting plot twists but shutter island remains #1 in my mind because never in a million years would I have caught that

[@TheThreeBookshelves]

My all-time favorite twist is the ending of the original Saw film. The show Lost also had TONS of amazing twists; the best by far were at the end of the first season finale. And of course, A Song of Ice and Fire, which should really be called A Twist of Twists and Twists.

[@ekanshkashyap4207]

Attack On Titan is definition of plot twist

[@LV99guy]

My favorite plot twist in a story is when at the very end of the story everything you were hoping and expecting happens but in a way so radically different that the joy comes from the setup not the final goal

[@wengya2170]

Knives Out's plot twist was just incredible. The usage of precise dialogues & visual cues were just amazing filmmaking 👏

[@katm4350]

I totally agree!!!

[@willpepper1572]

Yes that was an amazing movie!

[@ruriva4931]

I love how it pivoted from the who done it genre to thriller and then back to who done it.

[@billyalarie929]

@@ruriva4931 i feel like it went in an almost magical realism/fabulism direction, in the prologue.

[@ArchiduquesaMA]

"Attack on titan" is the best example of a plot twist I've ever seen, it literally changed the genre of the story. It's simply fantastic, amazing epic story about freedom (It's a japanese manga that was adapted to anime)

[@tonn2922]

Totaly agree with ya

[@tejusprakash3107]

Shinzo sasageyo

[@samsonwaidande1997]

Your advice on plot twist helped me rethink part of my novel. I'm going to make an important change towards the end of the story. Guess what, the change involves the villain.

[@soneill13]

I love how you break things down. This is something I am doing with my channel too.

[@stevesommin9072]

Yeah I like this to. Also this list style for giving advice has been an influence for my videos, even my introduction.

[@blackprincess82]

The 2016 US election was a good plot twist.

[@cladivostoc]

TOTALLY agree 😂

[@larryj.dunlapauthor1362]

It was a TERRIBLE plot twist! I might remind you that you are referring to reality, not fiction. There are and continue to be real consequences following this disaster.

[@doge8825]

@@larryj.dunlapauthor1362 we didn’t see it coming. We had clues leading up to it. It changed how we look at th election. It also changed the future. As far as plot twists go, this was one of the best.

[@DKFynn]

The current election (although some think it's over) may be a bigger plot twist. We'll see.

[@aproblem3503]

I wouldn`t say good. Was it unexpected? Yes Did we have to put up with so much angst and a bland, just blatantly evil and dumb character? Also yes. was just so anoying

[@JPCorwyn]

I really enjoy these vids. This one was no exception. Yet one more reason to be a Reedsy Rider(tm). :)

[@kit888]

What I like are stories that work even if you remove the plot twist. Too many stories are there just to set up the plot twist. As if the story, the journey, wasn't important. Night Shyamalan's movies do work, are satisfying, even if you chop off the plot twist in the last 5 minutes.

[@amandarandomtube4793]

I instantly thought of the first season of riverdale. I didn't watch much into the 2nd season or beyond, but that first season's storyline was incredible and the twists were very well done, it felt like I had read a great book at the end

[@hbm7350]

I recently watched the prestige by Christopher Nolan (based off of a novel by Christopher Priest, I did not know that until the ending credits, I really wanted to read the novel now) and I’m going into spoilers so don’t read this comment if you haven’t seen this movie or read the book because I highly recommend watching this movie/book. But it had an epic twist where the main character had a twin brother and the second time watching this I had to guess which twin is which. One of my all time favorite plot twists ever

[@i3rnr59]

One of my favorite plot twists is from the movie "Rudderless". Everything progresses as you would expect, then a "oh damn," moment happens that takes things to whole different level. Also a really good soundtrack.

[@nadine5337]

I loved the twist at the ent of the forth episode of the second season of Barry. I just sat there for a long time just laughing and just having my mind blown, it was so good

[@pencilmage]

he was a pickle ALL THE TIME!!! (its a theory i'm working on :)

[@yvonnerogers6429]

😂😂😂😂 I look 👀 forward to this being in the world! Good luck 🍀 with your writing! ✍️

[@angiehemenway243]

A Perfect Getaway and Cabin in the Woods (movies not books but still) both had amazing plot twists!

[@tommymaine6579]

A twist I liked was Katniss shooting the arrow at Coin, did NOT expect that

[@johndavisfrain4852]

Dennis Lehane's SHUTTER ISLAND. Gobsmacked when the twist was revealed.

[@danielsaunders2892]

The Usual Suspects is my favourite. Totally shocked by the ending! I did not see the plot twist at all! Also, do you have to have a plot twist? My first novel (I'm about to do second draft) has one, but I am considering leaving one out of novel#2. Second book, different genre and it's for 11-14 year olds. First one is YA sci-fi.

[@Zoe-rd9en]

Late reply, but 11-14 year olds can definitely enjoy/understand plot twists, just as any age group other than toddlers pretty much can. If you want to add one, I'd say go for it. Plot twists aren't necessary to tell a story, and you can definitely have a good story without one, but a well-done plot twist will always elevate the tale you're trying to tell, from my experience.

[@sophiemcdoogal6691]

me neither!! I would say I am fairly good at predicting them but that one I got only right as he walked out of the station. So well done

[@DKFynn]

Perhaps Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None has the best plot twist (more of a whodunit/whydunit reveal) that I've ever read.

[@abhishek1978]

I would recommend you to read the books of keigo higashino

[@DKFynn]

@@abhishek1978 Any titles in particular?

[@abhishek1978]

@@DKFynn Malice Suspect X

[@professor6751]

It's not a novel, but, one of the more recent plot twists I've enjoyed in recent years is the basement reveal in Attack on Titan.

[@mohamedabrar1084]

mind blowing.

[@Ray-nb2st]

🤍

[@AxleBoost]

I saw the plot twist in season one of The Good Place coming since the first episode, but I can't say why without spoiling the show for others. I really liked the plot twist in that old movie Sky High. It felt a little more ambitious than the movie it was used in, but also not so high level that it would go over the heads of the target age group (children).

[@Kelssoto]

Holly Black writes some of the best plot twists I have ever read

[@metro2thesequel]

So I am planning on writing an adaptation where there is a friendship between two characters but they have a falling out and one turns evil and kills the love interest of the main character. Now the thing is, I’m worried it might be obvious if you’ve read the source material, so is there a way to make this character death seem more unexpected?

[@lifeisstrange8480]

this videos help me so much.

[@chantelbrooks9923]

Just what I needed!

[@efosaagbonson1581]

Hello Shaelin...do you know you have a future in teaching creative writing besides a writing career itself....you do motivate me....thanks for your work.

[@Kk-lt1hs]

Ahhh love your videos your absolutely amazing you help a lot! Thanks!💕

[@billyalarie929]

i'm surprised, Shaelin, that a Brandon Sanderson novel had one of your favorite plot twists ever. only because you've mentioned more recently that fantasy is not a genre you typically go to, so you don't really know much about it.

[@Your_Mossad_Handler]

I predicted the “plot twist” in Frozen 2 within the first 5 minutes based off the way the other group of people were dressed. Granted that was a kids movie, but it was the longest movie I ever sat through since I knew what would happen.

[@riiddisbuk2496]

Spec Ops: The Line did it so damn well. *3 TIMES* in fact 👀👍

[@kaylaellis7379]

Best plot twist, not a book: watching your video looking for plot twist help and it made my fella fall asleep... he stayed awake when I watched Steve Sommin haha I won't complain means he's leaving me to work in peace now :)

[@activecrown5253]

The best plot twist I'd ever seen was in the novel 'The silent patient'

[@jpch8814]

For a person that doesn't read Mysteries/Thrillers, the plot twist was good, and the red herrings were horrible because they were never explained, they were just put in the story to confuse the reader which was cheap and felt amateurish (Exactly what Shaelin said you shouldn't do) A good plot twist would be novels like Gone Girl, The Kind worth killing.

[@activecrown5253]

@@jpch8814 which red herrings are you talking about? I might have forgotten I read it like a year ago.

[@jpch8814]

@@activecrown5253 Alicia's cousin (the debt), her husband's brother who was in love with her, Jean-Felix the Gallery owner, all those characters were used as red herrings and their story abandoned. The writer just threw them in to confuse us with 0 explanation. I won't list all the plot holes in the Silent Patient 😜 (there are many) the novel was fun and entertaining but it wasn't well done, especially for avid thriller readers.

[@activecrown5253]

@@jpch8814 Well I actually think that they weren't added to mislead or something, they just made it more real. And did you anticipate that plot twist, Faber being the stalker. And you are right it was so entertaining but I think it was a good thriller too. But that maybe because it was the first in this genre I read. How about 'silent widow', did you read that?

[@jpch8814]

@@activecrown5253 I did not read silent widow. Is it good?

[@kristinalam6614]

One of the best plot twists would be in the second book of the Red Rising series, Golden Son.

[@markforster6457]

Can a plot twist show up after the aha moment? Personally, I don't see the point, but I'm a curious newbie and eager to learn. Thank you!

[@markforster6457]

It would be a positive plot twist. Thanks again!

[@robinsprung207]

Great advice!

[@riptidesart2346]

I recently re watched Fire force and there's a plot twist that when going back they didn't even try and hide it they practically said it the entire time but it's it's not taken that way (for whatever reason) and I just felt like a complete idiot LOL. But it's definitely done well (if any of y'all like anime I'd definitely recommend fire force)

[@KutWrite]

For me the most obvious and predictable plot twist was in "The Crying Game." I think two good ones were in "Silence of the Lambs" and even better in "Sixth Sense."

[@bullymonk710]

Silence of the lambs had a plot twist?

[@tylerkoke1838]

hello! I'm a big fan of your videos and find them quite helpful. Do you have anything on incorporating character back story into a novel without negatively effecting the flow of the plot? Keep up the great work!

[@joshuad2bwalya688]

My favorite plot twist has to be, the Attack on titan anime 😅😅😅

[@fury3026]

Agreed, mainly because it just gets told to you without something dramatic revealing it

[@Megan-vb9ze]

7:32: *subtly strokes behind ear*

[@milestrombley1466]

What a twist!

[@auneakeffect]

what was the book/movie that is known for its plot twist that she was talking about in the beginning?

[@Reedsy]

I don't want to spoil it, so answer is hidden below for anyone curious: (it's Gone Girl)

[@auneakeffect]

@@Reedsy ahhhh i thought so but wasn't positive, thank you for the reply!

[@meghadas1643]

@@Reedsy Can you help me on my opening line? Despite being a real princess she never took a true decision and now just a small error by her can ruin thousands of lives... How is that opening line?

[@syenindiaa5888]

Thank you

[@maverikfamily]

I would like to hear the actual example with spoilers :)

[@lillydevil2486]

Lmao, for those daring enough to check him out there's actually a horror writer named Max Lobdell who makes amazing twists If you can stomach his content, you might learn something XD

[@Noosa21]

Luke I am your father. ....No. Noooo. NO!

[@nocturnus009]

This is something I think John Carpenter does better than people realize. Looking at you They Live (1988); The Thing (1982) & Escape From New York (1981). 🤫🤫🤫

[@Reedsy]

How could I forget to mention John Carpenter's The Thing! Iconic.

[@StudyCom]

Best movie twist was in the Sixth Sense. Agree?

[@mcawesomeytyo3312]

Star Wars The empire strikes back

[@Gitohandro]

Death note and attack on titan

[@theaverrainecyclemorgansmi5388]

If it's too obvious, it isn't really a twist, is it?

[@Gitohandro]

Ah discard them 😪😢

[@DKFynn]

Mark my words: currently, the date is November 28th, 2020. From what I see, the 2020 election may be an even bigger plot twist than the 2016 election. I guess we won't find out until January...or even later.

[@frankie3010]

Us twist? That she was the clone all along? Are you kidding me? It was literally spoiled in the first 10 minutes

[@shadanmushtaq9760]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@notthebayang408]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@shady.passionate]

I only say: Attack on titan

[@ThePigeonBrain]

The first advice is terrible though. There's nothing wrong with a predictable plot twist. There are a billion romance novels out there where the plot twist is just "gasp, he DID love her!" and that's fine. Often, if you try too hard to surprise your viewer, you just... end up with a nonsensical story. Look no further than the 8th season of game of thrones.

[@allyssaswain2394]

But that wouldn't really be a plot twist though???