Plot twists are a standard device used by authors to add drama and intrigue to their stories. From the ‘oh-my-god’ moment at the end of Fight Club, to the classic cozy mysteries of Agatha Christie, the brain of the reader can’t get enough of an unpredictable plot twist.
So just why do we find this literary trick so satisfying? Here’s why our brains are wired to respond positively to plot twists.
As humans, we naturally crave patterns and look for predictability in the world around us. Plot twists don’t work unless they are cleverly placed as the culmination of tense buildup. Thrillers have an intrinsic tendency to lead the reader towards an unpredictable end, and keep them guessing along the way. We naturally want to try and work out what’s going on, and at the same time we’re expecting a surprise.
When building up to a twist, a great thriller author will do everything they can to throw you off the scent. A common way to do this is by using red herrings, carefully placed amidst genuine clues so that the actual conclusion becomes near impossible to predict.
Even better, a really great plot twist adds meaning to everything that happened previously in the novel, which invites the reader to go back and rediscover scenes they may have previously glossed over. This means that thrillers can be enjoyed over and over again, with new secrets waiting to be discovered with every visit.
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