What are the best ways to use plot twists to keep your audience engaged?

2 Plan ahead

Plot twists should not be random or arbitrary. They should be foreshadowed and justified by the events and clues that precede them. Otherwise, they will feel like a cheat or a deus ex machina, and lose their impact and credibility. To plan ahead, you need to have a clear idea of the main plot, the subplots, the characters, and the themes of your story. You also need to decide when and how to reveal the plot twist, and how it will affect the rest of the story. You can use outlines, diagrams, notes, or other tools to help you organize your ideas and plot your twists.

3 Hide and reveal

One of the key skills of using plot twists is to balance hiding and revealing information. You need to hide enough information to create mystery and curiosity, but reveal enough information to create tension and anticipation. You also need to avoid giving away too much information that would spoil the surprise, or too little information that would confuse or frustrate the audience. You can use techniques such as misdirection, red herrings, unreliable narrators, flashbacks, or hints to hide and reveal information in subtle and clever ways.

4 Subvert expectations

Plot twists work best when they subvert the expectations of the audience, but not in a way that contradicts the logic or consistency of the story. You can subvert expectations by playing with tropes, clichés, stereotypes, or common patterns that are familiar to the audience, and then twisting them in unexpected ways. For example, you can make the hero turn out to be the villain, the victim turn out to be the mastermind, the friend turn out to be the enemy, or the ordinary turn out to be extraordinary. You can also subvert expectations by changing the tone, genre, or perspective of the story, or by introducing a new element or complication that changes everything.

5 Evoke emotion

Plot twists should not be just for shock value or novelty. They should also evoke emotion in the audience, and make them care about the outcome of the story and the fate of the characters. Plot twists can evoke different emotions, such as fear, anger, sadness, joy, or awe, depending on the nature and impact of the twist. You can evoke emotion by making the plot twist personal, meaningful, or consequential to the characters, by showing their reactions and emotions, and by making the audience empathize with them. You can also evoke emotion by making the plot twist resonate with the themes, messages, or morals of the story, and by making the audience reflect on their own views or values.

6 Test and refine

Plot twists are not easy to pull off, and they can backfire if they are not well-executed. That is why you need to test and refine your plot twists before you publish or present them to your audience. You can test your plot twists by asking yourself some questions, such as: Does the plot twist make sense? Does it fit the genre and the tone of the story? Does it add value and depth to the story and the characters? Does it surprise and engage the audience? Does it evoke the desired emotion? You can also test your plot twists by getting feedback from other people, such as beta readers, editors, or peers, and by listening to their opinions and suggestions. You can then refine your plot twists by revising, editing, or rewriting them until you are satisfied with the result.