How to add a TWIST to your flash fiction August 25, 2011

Quite simply, a twist in the tale means that the readers assumptions up to that point (the tail end of the story) are incorrect. It is not a question of the reader being wrong, it is rather that a natural belief based on the reader’s prejudices or reader’s conventional wisdom’s have led to one point of view which then needs to be revised substantially to an altered viewpoint at the end of the story.

Begin with the end in mind… Write it backward, That’s it. Simple really! Start by thinking up a number of misconception situations. Here are several examples. The man is in fact a woman The woman is a man The narrator isn’t a human but is instead an animal or an inanimate object like a car The time isn’t today but, say, in the Stone Age or 18th century Keep thinking up misconceptions until you come across one you like and then write your story. The story will end with a sentence that clears up the misconception but, until that point, the story must muddy the issue or, better still, imply the view or misconception that you wish the reader to assume until the last line.

More tips Make it believable. A twist is when something surprising happens in the middle of the story that changes it entire course. For example, a policeman may die, there may be a shootout, a man may go looking for his daughter, etc. You can't have a fairy popping down from heaven in a book about the underworld. And you can't have an outrageous twist which will end up spoiling the story. Make the twist believable, as in make sure it could actually happen if the story was real.

Don't spring something on your readers by absolute surprise Don't spring something on your readers by absolute surprise. Leave small clues, and slight descriptions that would eventually lead the reader up to the point if they paid attention. A good murder mystery can be solved by the reader before the detective, and this is exactly what made the Hound Of Baskervilles such a brilliant book. If a gun is fired in Act III it must be seen on the wall in Act I, and if a gun is seen on the wall in Act I, it must be fired in Act III.

Practice Write a twist for each of these scenarios. Add details if need be. 1. Miranda was found dead by a lake. In her hand she clutched a key 2. Karl witnessed Jessica get beat every day. One day, Karl hit Jessica. 3. Carmen could not find Charlie while playing Hide and Seek.

Pair Share Share your twists with a partner. Who has the best twist for each scenario?

Today’s goals… Begin writing your flash fiction. Prepare a rough draft for tomorrow’s peer editing session. If you do not turn it in, be prepared to do boring worksheets all period. These will count toward your grade! Don’t forget your REFLECTION!