he’s right 🐮🍫
my dog chased the afterlife. i chased the memories and bits of pieces he left for me in this world. i miss that big fella..
1. Start with a false sense of security
• The best plot twists work because the audience feels confident they know what’s coming.
• How? Lay down a trail of clues that mislead without outright lying. Create a sense of inevitability.
• Example: A detective follows all the evidence to one suspect, only for the real criminal to be someone they completely overlooked.
2. Plant the seeds early
• A plot twist is most satisfying when it feels inevitable in hindsight. Subtly sprinkle clues throughout the narrative.
• How? Use small, seemingly insignificant details that take on new meaning after the reveal.
• Example: A side character is always conveniently absent during key events—later revealed to be orchestrating everything.
3. Subvert expectations without betraying logic
• A twist should surprise readers, but it must feel plausible within the story’s framework.
• How? Flip assumptions in a way that feels earned. Avoid twists that rely on coincidences or break the rules of your world.
• Example: A character who appears harmless and incompetent is revealed as the mastermind, with subtle foreshadowing tying everything together.
4. Exploit emotional investment
• Twists land harder when they involve characters the audience deeply cares about. Use relationships and personal stakes to heighten the impact.
• How? Create twists that change how readers perceive the characters they thought they knew.
• Example: The protagonist’s mentor is revealed to be the antagonist, making the betrayal personal and devastating.
5. Use red herrings strategically
• Mislead readers by planting false clues that draw attention away from the real twist.
• How? Make the red herrings believable but not overly obvious. They should enhance, not distract from, the story.
• Example: A mysterious object everyone believes is cursed turns out to be completely irrelevant, shifting focus from the true danger.
6. Timing is everything
• Reveal the twist at the moment it has the most dramatic or emotional weight. Too early, and it loses impact. Too late, and it feels rushed.
• How? Build tension to a breaking point before the twist shatters expectations.
• Example: A twist that flips the climax—when the hero thinks they’ve won, they realize they’ve fallen into the villain’s trap.
7. Allow for multiple interpretations
• A great twist makes readers rethink the entire story, encouraging them to revisit earlier scenes with new understanding.
• How? Design the twist so that the story works both before and after the reveal.
• Example: A character’s cryptic dialogue is recontextualized after the twist, revealing their hidden motives.
8. Pair the twist with consequences
• A twist shouldn’t just shock—it should change the trajectory of the story. Make it matter.
• How? Show how the twist raises the stakes or deepens the conflict, forcing the characters to adapt.
• Example: After discovering the villain is their ally, the protagonist must choose between loyalty and justice.
9. Keep the reader guessing
• A single twist is good, but layered twists create an unforgettable story. Just don’t overdo it.
• How? Build twists that complement each other rather than competing for attention.
• Example: A twist reveals the villain’s plan, followed by a second twist that the hero anticipated it and set a counter-trap.
10. Test the twist
• Before finalizing your twist, ensure it holds up under scrutiny. Does it fit the story’s logic? Does it enhance the narrative?
• How? Ask yourself if the twist creates a moment of genuine surprise while respecting your audience’s intelligence.
• Example: A shocking but clever reveal that leaves readers satisfied rather than feeling tricked.
"doomed yaoi" this, "doomed yuri" that. what about DOOMED SIBLINGS
For Valentines, Yachi made all the other first years tomo-choco (friend chocolate) !! It was well-received :,,) Tobio is going to put off eating his so he can continue staring at it. Yachi-san made this for him… friends chocolate… because they are friends…
"Even with his eyes covered in white bandages, Shen Yuan can still feel the way his ‘gaze’ rakes through the crowd of disciples[...]" - Locked and Loaded, Chapter 17: Sympathy for the Devil
1. Lay the Groundwork (Set Up the Twist)
• Plant clues: Leave subtle hints that seem insignificant at first but gain importance in hindsight. These are “breadcrumbs” for the audience.
• Establish expectations: Lead the audience down a path of assumptions. Use misdirection to make the twist feel unexpected but not out of nowhere.
• Avoid obvious tropes: Be aware of overused twists (e.g., “It was all a dream”) and either subvert them or build upon them uniquely.
2. Build the Tension
• Create stakes: Make the audience care deeply about the characters or the situation. When the twist comes, it should feel like a significant shift in those stakes.
• Add foreshadowing: Subtle hints or recurring motifs make the twist feel earned. For example, if a character turns out to be a villain, tiny actions or dialogue could subtly reflect their true nature.
• Play with timing: A twist often works best at a moment of high tension, where it either resolves or exacerbates the conflict.
3. Deliver the Twist
• Surprise and clarity: The twist should shock the audience but also make them say, “Of course, that makes sense!” upon reflection.
• Keep it believable: Even if surprising, the twist must fit within the story’s internal logic. If it feels random, it risks alienating readers.
• Reveal it organically: Use character actions, dialogue, or key events to unveil the twist naturally rather than outright explaining it.
4. Deepen the Story
• Shift the stakes: A great twist doesn’t just shock—it recontextualizes everything that came before it. It might make readers see previous events in a new light.
• Challenge characters: Show how the twist changes their motivations, relationships, or trajectory.
• Keep momentum: The story shouldn’t lose energy after the twist. Instead, it should propel the narrative into a new and exciting direction.
Types of Plot Twists
1. Identity Reveal: A character isn’t who they seem (e.g., a friend is the villain).
2. False Assumptions: The audience and/or characters misunderstood an event or situation.
3. Reversal of Fortune: Something unexpected dramatically alters the protagonist’s circumstances.
4. Unreliable Narrator: The perspective we’ve trusted turns out to be false or misleading.
5. Hidden Connections: Two seemingly unrelated elements turn out to be connected.
6. Misdirection: A red herring diverts attention away from the true twist.
Examples of Great Plot Twists
1. The Sixth Sense (Identity reveal): The protagonist is dead the whole time.
2. Gone Girl (False assumptions): The missing wife orchestrated her own disappearance.
3. Fight Club (Unreliable narrator): The protagonist and his enemy are the same person.
4. The Others (Reversal of fortune): The protagonists are ghosts, not the haunted.
5. Shutter Island (Hidden connections): The protagonist is a patient in the asylum he’s investigating.
Pitfalls to Avoid
• Predictability: If the twist is too obvious, it loses impact.
• Lack of setup: A twist without groundwork feels unearned.
• Twist for twist’s sake: Don’t add a twist just to shock; it must serve the story.
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Red face
Tensing up jaw/body
Clenching fists
Gritting teeth
Stomped feet
Rolling eyes
Crossing arms
Kick/Hit something
Eyebrows furl
Face crunches up
Tight lips
Narrow eyes
Laugh/Giggle
Smile from ear to ear
High tone in voice
Smiling/Grinning while talking
Heart Pounding
Clapping
Breathing deeply
Squeal/Scream
Talking fast
Contentedly Sigh
Tilted head
Hand clasped over mouth
Pace back and forth
Sigh loudly
Blank face
Play with fingers
Staring off into space
Yawning
Fidgeting around
Leaning head on hands
Rubbing eyes
Droopy eyes
Dark circles under eyes
Complaining
Trembling lips/body
Tears in eyes
Bite Nails
Curl up/tuck knees to chest
Bite nails
Eyes burn/turn red
Stop breathing OR breathe fast
Lose appetite
Frowning
Darting eyes
Blinking quick or not at all
Pounding heart
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more like personal time difference attack on my heart 🥹
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