What did you think when you read the title? Did the song pop into your head and start playing on a loop? Did you start tapping your foot?
How about when you read, “It’s a cookbook!” Where did your mind go then? Are you in on the joke?
Laughs. Scares. Twists. Double-Takes. We create emotional rollercoasters to tell our stories and take our audiences to new, hopefully unexpected, places.
Since our brains constantly search for connections and patterns, we creators can exploit this feature. We can use the conditioning we’ve all experienced to surprise our audiences and keep them captivated.
Deconstruct your favorite plot twists. What patterns and assumptions did the creator exploit in you? How can you use this information to improve your craft?
xoxoLibby
Get creating.
themes.
plot twists • illusion • delusion • fraud • frenzy • alien
food.
Sour Patch Kids • Soylent • Mexican hot chocolate • Beyond Burgers
color palette.
experience.
After you’ve deconstructed your favorite plot twists. Take the information you’ve learned and apply it. Challenge yourself to read or watch a new mystery or work with a twist.
See if you can figure out the twist by challenging your own assumptions. Note what assumptions were correct and which were completely off base.
watch.
“To Serve Man” (season 3, episode 24) Twilight Zone (1959) – Paramount+, Amazon
listen.
share.
Share what you create with me on Instagram, tag me @libby.caruso on Instagram.
If it’s art, share your art and title your creation in the caption.
If it’s a story, create a post with your favorite line or two.
Libby Caruso 