writingandfilmmaking

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"I don’t care that you are a Goddess. I do not worship you or set you on a Pedestal. I don’t care about godly stuff. You can cry, blow a gasket, or be your true childish self in front of me. I do not care. I’ll follow you on my own volition. I am your Weapon, let me hunt him who hurt you!"

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Sherlock Holmes (2009) dir. Guy Ritchie

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ALRIGHT BY VICTORIA MONÉT (2024) dir. Dave Meyers

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BILLIE EILISH — 'LUNCH' (2024)

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MEGAN THEE STALLION Her (2022)

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Welcome to the Black Parade - My Chemical Romance Released: September 12, 2006

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do you all see my vision here

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20 Plot Twist Ideas That Will Shock Your Audience

One of the most effective tools in a storyteller's arsenal is the plot twist. A well-executed plot twist can leave your audience reeling, questioning everything they thought they knew about your story. It can turn a good story into a great one, leaving a lasting impact on your readers or viewers. In this post, we'll explore 20 plot twist ideas that will shock your audience and elevate your storytelling game to new heights.

1. The Unlikely Hero:

Turn the tables by revealing an unexpected character as the true hero. This can be someone seemingly insignificant or even an antagonist who redeems themselves at a crucial moment.

2. The Double Agent:

Introduce a character who initially appears loyal to the protagonist but is secretly working against them, only to later reveal their true intentions.

3. The Long-Lost Sibling:

Uncover a secret sibling, separated from the main character in their early years, and use their sudden appearance to shift the narrative.

4. Time Travel Paradox:

Play with time travel to create a paradox that forces the characters to confront alternate timelines or unforeseen consequences of their actions.

5. The Mastermind:

The story's villain is revealed to be a puppet in a larger scheme, controlled by a mastermind who has been operating behind the scenes.

6. The Supernatural Twist:

Introduce a supernatural element, like ghosts or mythical creatures, that the characters and audience believed were mere myths.

7. The Doppelgänger:

A character's doppelgänger appears, causing confusion and chaos as they try to determine who is the real one.

8. The Reversal of Roles:

Switch the roles of the protagonist and antagonist halfway through the story, making the audience question their allegiances.

9. The Untouchable Hero:

Create a seemingly invincible hero who unexpectedly meets their match, forcing them to reevaluate their abilities and tactics.

10. The Forgotten Past:

Unearth a character's forgotten or repressed memories, leading to a shocking revelation about their true identity or past actions.

11. The Betrayal Within:

One of the protagonist's closest allies betrays them, throwing their entire mission into disarray.

12. The Hidden Identity:

A character is not who they claim to be, and their true identity is revealed, impacting the story's direction.

13. The Inception Twist:

Blur the lines between reality and illusion, leaving the audience guessing what's real and what's a dream or illusion.

14. The Time Loop:

Trap your characters in a time loop where they're forced to relive the same events repeatedly until they can break free.

15. The Shapeshifter:

Introduce a character with the ability to change their appearance, creating doubt and suspicion within the group.

16. The Truth About the Mentor:

The mentor figure, who initially seems wise and benevolent, is unveiled as the story's true antagonist.

17. The Lost Artifact:

The much sought-after artifact or treasure turns out to be a fake, and the real item is something entirely unexpected.

18. The Pseudo-Death:

Fake a character's death to shock the audience and later reveal they were alive all along.

19. The Prophecy Reversed:

Subvert the traditional hero's journey by defying a prophesized destiny and taking the story in a different direction.

20. The Unreliable Narrator:

Reveal that the narrator has been lying or misrepresenting events, casting doubt on the entire story's accuracy.

Conclusion:

These 20 plot twist ideas are just the beginning, and by incorporating them into your narratives, you can leave your audience stunned, shocked, and eager for more. Remember that the key to a successful plot twist lies in its execution, so take your time and craft a twist that seamlessly integrates into your story, making it an unforgettable experience for your readers or viewers.

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sometimes, if you are stuck, it might be because a decision you made a couple of chapters ago… the story was able to move along for a while but at some point it gets stuck

One of the best writing advice I have gotten in all the months I have been writing is "if you can't go anywhere from a sentence, the problem isn't in you, it's in the last sentence." and I'm mad because it works so well and barely anyone talks about it. If you're stuck at a line, go back. Backspace those last two lines and write it from another angle or take it to some other route. You're stuck because you thought up to that exact sentence and nothing after that. Well, delete that sentence, make your brain think because the dead end is gone. It has worked wonders for me for so long it's unreal

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GREEN IS FOR VILLAINY Snow White (1937) Cinderella (1950) Sleeping Beauty (1959) One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) The Little Mermaid (1989) The Lion King (1994) The Princess and the Frog (2009)

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THE WITCH (2015) dir. Robert Eggers

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Before camera cranes were invented, William A. Wellman pulled off this tracking shot in WINGS (1927). It was the first Best Picture Oscar winner.

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Do you have any suggestions for how to introduce the teen protagonist who has already been working as the Chosen one for a while before the first chapter? How to make (and show, not tell) the inciting incident push her out of her comfort zone when she's already on the quest?

Quest/Chosen One Status Started Before the Story

Normally, the inciting incident would be what sets the character off on the quest in the first place, so this is an unusual set-up.

To avoid confusing the reader and having what feels like a redundant inciting incident, I think you need to make it clear that being the Chosen One and being on this quest is her "normal world." This has been her life for a long time now and is the life she knows.

Then, you'll want to make sure the inciting incident is something that upsets this normal world and sets her on a different path... something that changes or threatens her status as the Chosen One or creates a new dilemma or problem that wasn't there before. Otherwise, it's not an inciting incident if she just continues on as before and nothing changes.

I hope that helps!

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I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

♦ Questions that violate my ask policies will be deleted! ♦ Please see my master list of top posts before asking ♦ Learn more about WQA here

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this camera movement + the light coming through the wooden walls 🥵

“Phil, I’ve got rawhide to finish the rope. I wanted to be like you. Please take what I’ve got.”

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Linda Grahame

Ava Gardner in Singapore (1947)

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The Lady Eve (1941) Directed by Preston Sturges