One of my favorite things about reading a book is being surprised. (Which is interesting, because in real life, I don’t like being surprised.)
This surprise doesn’t have to be anything as dramatic as a twist ending. It can be something as minor as a character showing an unexpected bit of depth or an unusual facet of his personality.
But I also like it when I’ve expected the plot to take a particular trajectory and something else happens.
I like to see an unexpected bit of trouble thrown at a character, too. How will they react? How does it change the direction of the story?
What surprises are good for:
As a distraction: A suddenly erupting argument or a quickly-contained but alarming grease fire provides a wonderful opportunity to slip in a clue under the radar. Writers of other genres can also use this slight of hand technique to protect a larger surprise later in the book.
For adding humor or quirkiness: You think a character is going to behave in a particular way. You’ve carefully portrayed Agnes as an uptight prude. Your protagonist views Agnes that way. Then Agnes says something outrageous and brazen that completely shatters this stereotype. Or Agnes invites the protagonist to lunch—and serves McDonald’s Quarter Pounders with Cheese on her delicate china. With Bloody Marys.
For suspense: You can write a fairly ho-hum scene with a character going through her usual routine…which is suddenly interrupted when she’s carjacked.
As a change of pace: Is your scene getting stale? Is your character going through the same motions every day? Liven things up with something unexpected. It doesn’t have to be something major (scary landing during their plane trip)—it could be something as minor as a flat tire or a broken air conditioner that takes their day on a different and surprising trajectory.
As a way to add depth to a character: While we want our characters to behave in character, it’s always fun to see different facets of a character, too. How do they react when we put them into an emergency situation? How do they react when we poke fun at them or put them under stress? What happens when we press their buttons? Sometimes their reactions can surprise us.
Do you enjoy throwing in surprising elements to your story? Do you use big or little twists?
I love to find a good post like this one when I’m doing re-writes. It provides another tool for making sure my story is as sharp as I can make it. Thanks.
Elizabeth – The element of surprise can really add a lot to a story. And you’re quite right that it doesn’t have to be a big major plot twist. In fact sometimes that doesn’t work as well as those small surprises, because the big shocks can feel as though they’re done just for effect and not as natural parts of the story. I do include surprises here and there because it keeps the reader turning pages.
Great advice! I’m doing a revision round right now and this perfect timing! :)
I think that storytelling is all about raising expectations and surprising people. (Suspense is largely a matter of raising expectations of something dreadful in the reader, after all.)
IMHO, a really good surprise is also a payoff, though. I mean, yes, sometimes it’s a matter of completely surprising the audience, but some of the best surprises are when you can raise a desire to see something in the audience — something they never expect to really get — and then give it to them in an unexpected way.
Then you get surprise and payoff at once.
Can problems be the same as surprises? Because complications can be fun.
My closest pal and I say that surprise is another word for god.
I think twists and surprises are wonderful (my characters seem to think so to, judging from what they wait to reveal to me). And I think there needs to be a mix of big and small, or readers will think you’re too predictable.
Terry
Terry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
Have you ever seen the movie “Laura”? It’s from the 40’s and stars Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Web and Vincent Price. The surprise in this movie is the kind I like. The first time I saw this movie I understood why it’s labeled as the best suspense movie ever.
I love surprises and twists in a novel, both my own and those I read. Small and big surprises make it into my work.
I love surprises and shocking twists and turns! I think the small ones are the best because usually they’re the most unexpected.
LD Masterson–So glad it helps! Good luck with your edits!
Margot–And, sometimes, I think those small surprises feel more realistic.
Jemi–Good luck with it!
Alex–I think that complications can *definitely* come as a surprise! Case in point, my last couple of weeks. :)
Jan–Ha! I love it!
Heather–I usually do little ones. I think I’d like to deliver something bigger, though.
The Daring Novelist–Good definition of suspense. :)
Ooh…good point. So we are getting the readers to the point where they just can’t wait to see a particular thing happen in the story–then put a different spin on that event.
Laura–Sometimes it’s those little things that make such a big impact!
I’ve dropped a few surprise bombs on my characters.
Diane–I’m sure your characters love you for it. :)
Terry–And we don’t want to be predictable!
Judy–I *love* that movie. I remember being fascinated the first time I saw that portrait…then the plot thickened…
This post came just in time to save me from a dead spot. I knee what I had to do but wasn’t sure how. As I read this the light bulb went on. Thank you so much.
My favorite is when my characters surprise me — and, like you, I don’t like surprises in real life, only fiction.
I love surprises, even in real life. Great ideas here.
Ahhhhhhh. LAURA.
The great thing about that movie is that the “big reveal” happens mid-movie, and just ramps the whole story up. Takes it in a new direction.
I definitely love to be surprised with a “now it all makes sense, why didn’t I see that” ephiphany at the end of a story.
In my writing I try to mix up the surprises, a small surprise with a subtle clue or a large one with hidden implications. Variety is the spice.
Great tips, Elizabeth.
Great advice!!