Dear fellow thrill-seeker,
There’s a particular kind of joy that courses through my veins as a thriller author, and it’s not just from the caffeine-fueled writing marathons or the late-night brainstorming sessions. No, it’s the thrill of surprising you, my reader, with twists you never saw coming. In this blog post, I want to peel back the curtain and share with you the secrets behind creating those spine-tingling, hair-raising moments that keep you glued to the page.
1. I Know My Characters Inside and Out
Creating unexpected twists starts with knowing my characters as if they were real people. And, for me, they are real as I’m immersed in telling their story. The more intimately I understand their motivations, fears, and secrets, the better equipped I am to orchestrate those mind-bending plot twists you’ve come to expect from my stories. I dive deep into my characters’ psyche, uncover their hidden desires, and exploit their vulnerabilities.
2. I Foreshadow with a Light Touch
A well-executed twist doesn’t come out of nowhere. It should be built upon a foundation of subtle hints and foreshadowing. Dropping breadcrumbs along the way can make the twist feel organic and earned, rather than forced. And boy do I enjoy leaving hints that are subtle but memorable. I want you to think, “How did I miss that?” when the twist is revealed, not “This came out of left field.”
3. I Subvert Genre Expectations
Like any genre of fiction, thrillers come with established conventions and tropes. I don’t totally ignore these, but I do use these expectations to my advantage by subverting them. I want to challenge your assumptions and lead you down unexpected avenues. It’s the road less traveled that often holds the most surprising revelations.
4. I Love a Good Unreliable Narrator
One of the most powerful tools in a thriller writer’s arsenal is the unreliable narrator. And why shouldn’t it be? We humans are not always reliable. We see things through our unique lens and like to paint ourselves as more innocent than we are. Isn’t it silly then that we, as readers, tend to trust the protagonist’s perspective? My characters keep their secrets and biases to them selves for as long as they can. It’s this technique that helps me shatter your assumptions and leave you questioning everything you thought you knew.
5. I Never Forget That Timing is Everything
The timing of a story twist can significantly impact its effectiveness. For this reason, I delay the revelation of a critical twist until the last possible moment, either when tension is at its peak or when the reader thinks things are just starting to settle down. This can create an explosive and unforgettable moment that, I hope, leaves you breathless and stays with you long after you’ve finished the story.
6. I Take You on an Emotional Rollercoaster
The best twists not only shock but also resonate emotionally with you. I start by thinking about how the twist affects my characters on a personal level. Does it challenge their beliefs, force them to confront their past, or reveal their true selves? An emotionally charged twist can be the most unforgettable.
7. I Stay True to My Story
While it’s tempting to shoehorn in twists for the sake of shock value, I try to remember that they must serve my story’s overarching themes and character arcs. A twist that feels forced or out of place can disrupt the narrative flow. It’s my goal to make sure my surprises aren’t just clever but also integral to the story I’m telling.
In conclusion, the art of surprising, you, the reader with unexpected twists is a delicate dance of psychology, narrative craftsmanship, and emotional resonance. It’s about crafting a story you’ll hopefully never forget, leaving you eagerly turning pages late into the night until that final, satisfying send off.
Happy reading (well, not exactly happy), and may my twists be as unforgettable as the stories they inhabit.
Yours in suspense,
Jeff Berney
