: Re: Is an easily guessed plot twist a good plot twist? In my post-apocalyptic novel, there are two "twists", but they're mostly tied up in each other. The first is that humans have developed
I agree with the other answers posted. One thing that I think should be added to this discussion: the plot driver.
What causes things to happen and makes the plot unfold? Ultimately, it's you, the author, but how it's done makes a big difference. In general, from best to worst, the plot can be driven by: characters, events, or writer(s).
Character-driven: Most of the best works set up characters with defined personalities, abilities, relationships, and goals. The characters then act in accordance with their goals and personalities and these actions cause chains of reactions that push the story forward.
Event-driven: Characters are still consistent, but most of the plot advancement comes from external, seemingly random events. The characters then react to these events according to their personalities. This event-reaction cycle is what moves the story forward.
Writer-driven: The least satisfying stories often treat characters as secondary. Personalities are either poorly defined or violated whenever needed to make something happen. World rules are added and violated as needed. Are things too peaceful? A character turns evil for some random reason. Are things too bleak? A character finds the light (or some special power with no previous mention).
Unless you have a bet with someone about how many readers you can catch by surprise, it doesn't matter how "twisty" your twist is. What matters is how satisfying it is to the reader. One source of satisfaction is being drawn into a story, forgetting it's just a story, and watching it unfold. If the world and characters are believable and you avoid jerking the reader out of your world and reminding them it's just a story by being inconsistent, then that is the most important thing.
In short, make sure the best way for the reader to understand and predict your plot is by analyzing the motivations of the characters, not the writer.
More posts by @Jamie945
: Is 7000 words too long for a chapter? I've been working on a story for the last 4 years. It's just a personal project now and I've gone really in depth to clean up any plot holes I can
: Be consistent. It can be a narrative technique where the main character is first person and the others are third person. This is useful for if you want to hide things from the reader. The
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