How Do I Decide If I Want To Write In First Or Third Person

how do i decide if i want to write in first or third person 

You guys probably already know this, but in case you forgot, it’s fine to just, like, put cool stuff in your novel. Names don’t always have to have special meanings, the way the sword swishes doesn’t have to be of extreme plot significance, there doesn’t need to be “another angle” to a particular character…It’s certainly good to use metaphors, items, themes, motifs, and suggestions to loftier ends, but you liking something can be enough.

Basic Elements of Good Plot Twists

Plot twists are something that a lot of writers can struggle with, and sometimes don’t even attempt. Unfortunately, there’s no ‘perfect method’ to setting up a good plot twist (or else they wouldn’t be surprises because we’d all know the warning signs!), but there are some things that could be kept in mind for anyone interesting in writing them.

They should be unique: Watch for clichés or obvious set ups, though “obviousness” is sadly a subjective element. This can be a case of carefully monitoring tropes to make sure they are’t spotlighting your endgame. Almost every kind of twist has arguably been done in the history of writing, but what is cliche in one genre may be new and fresh in another, and what makes it unique is the details of the story it exists in.

They should be foreshadowed: Balance can be tricky. There needs to be enough foreshadowing that the twist isn’t too far-fetched or random, but not enough to be obvious. Someone should be able to re-read the story, pick up on those tiny details, and wonder how they didn’t notice earlier. Remember, you want the reader to say “I should have seen that coming!” not “I never would have seen that coming!”

They should be plot-useful: Twists should not exist just to fool but to further the story. They need to have a point, a reason for the deception, and an answer the question of why those who were fooled weren’t expecting it. Typically, you’d seen plot twists at climaxes, but they can actually happen at almost any point in the story, usually designating that moment as a “turning point”. 

They should create interesting situations: Even if a twist can be figured out by a savvy reader, the effect it has on the story should be worth the read. The results must be better that the twist. You can even get away with a cliché twist by making it have an interesting effect on the story or the characters.

Twists should not diminish re-readability: The focus should never be purely on the twist itself. If the story isn’t enjoyable after the twist is revealed then the story needs work. Good plot twists are not the end of a story (they can exist near the end, but are not the “end of whats interesting”), they’re a new way to think about old info. They shine a new light on old events. A reader should be able to re-read the book and still find it worth their time, though perhaps in a different way. 

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Broke: I hate my first draft, it’s sooo baaaad

Woke: While my writing is not perfect, I love every inch of it and I cannot wait until it’s completion!

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Mood

Half of my life is comprised of maniacal cackling as I conjure up another plot twist that devastates the once-peaceful lives of my characters. The other half is comprised of existential regretting the inevitable trauma I’m about to inflict on all of my unsuspecting readers and asking forgiveness for my apparent sadism.