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Fiction Writing Made Easy

#187. How To Write An Unforgettable Plot Twist In Your Novel With Samantha Skal

Apr 1, 2025
Samantha Skal, Director of ThrillerFest and expert in mystery and suspense, dives deep into crafting unforgettable plot twists. She emphasizes the importance of 'playing fair' with readers and starting with the villain to create surprising yet inevitable twists. Discover how personal character baggage can cleverly misdirect while still keeping the narrative logical. Samantha also discusses the strategic use of red herrings and character depth as essential tools for enhancing suspense and reader engagement. Get ready to transform your storytelling skills!
46:25

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Plot twists must be logically rooted in character motivations to ensure they resonate and feel satisfying for readers.
  • Writers should balance red herrings and clues to maintain suspense without frustrating the audience by withholding essential information.

Deep dives

Understanding Twists in Mysteries and Thrillers

Twists serve as crucial reveals in storytelling, particularly in mysteries and thrillers, centering around the protagonist's misconceptions about the villain's motives. For a twist to resonate, it must be rooted in logical misassumptions rather than feeling arbitrary or out of the blue. Writers should focus on crafting twists that not only surprise but also maintain coherence upon reflection. This approach ensures that readers find meaning in the twists rather than feeling misled without the requisite clues.

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