K.M. Gallagher

First, look to some common plot twists for inspiration:

1. A character is not who they seem to be (a good guy turns out to be a bad guy or vice versa, an honest character is revealed to be a liar, etc.)
2. A character’s true motivation is revealed—have they misled the audience with their intentions?
3. A red herring (something that has been taken for granted as fact is revealed to be false or irrelevant).
4. The narrator is unreliable.
5. The reader learns something the characters don’t know (dramatic irony).
6. A seemingly resolved conflict is revived or turned on its head.
7. A reversal of fate or circumstance takes place (a character on top of the world is suddenly down on their luck, or vice versa).
8. The characters learn something that completely upends their worldview or perception.

The Tips

1. Make your readers work for the twist. Divulge small pieces of information at a time throughout the narrative as a way to build up to the final reveal, but avoid dumping everything at once, especially before the reveal. This makes the payoff much more satisfying!
2. Try to figure out the big twist of the story before writing. That way, you can plant small, seemingly insignificant details throughout the narrative to foreshadow what’s to come.
3. Avoid being unpredictable for the sake of unpredictability. If your reader can predict the twist, it often means you’ve laid the proper groundwork. Setting up things one way only to reveal information that’s never even hinted at may leave the reader feeling cheated.
4. Use the twist to force your characters into action. A good twist can introduce new stakes, new motives, and a new goal, revitalizing a part of the story that may otherwise seem vague or uncertain.
5. Allow the plot twist to be uncovered organically. As fun as a villain speech can be, it will often be more satisfying (and can cut down on expository dialogue) if your character pieces most of the puzzle together by themself, with supplementary details added through conversation or exposition.
6. Get feedback! If you’re not sure whether something is too predictable or not predictable enough, ask a few friends to read the story over and tell you what they think.