How To Write An Unforgettable Plot Twist In Your Novel With Samantha Skal

Ever gasped out loud while reading a mystery or thriller? That moment when everything you think you know flips upside down, and you think, "I should have seen it coming!" 😱

That's the power of a well-crafted plot twist.

Creating these goosebump-inducing moments isn't magic—it's a skill that any writer can master, even if you’re just starting out. And who better to learn from than someone whose superpower is brainstorming plot twists?

I recently chatted with Samantha Skal on the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast about this very topic. 

Sam’s the director of Thriller Fest, the co-founder of Shadows and Secrets Writing Retreats (held in Salem’s most haunted hotel!), and a certified Author Accelerator book coach specializing in mystery, thriller, and suspense. So to say she knows a thing or two about crafting plot twists would be an understatement.

Whether you're excited to start your first novel or stuck somewhere in the middle of a manuscript, wondering how to surprise your readers, these three actionable tips will help you craft plot twists that feel both surprising and inevitable. 

Let's dive into the most crucial element first: understanding your antagonist.

Tip #1: Start With Your Villain's Motivation

Sam's advice is refreshingly clear: start with your villain.

This approach might seem counterintuitive, but it’s actually really smart.

Your villain's goals and motivations are the driving force behind your plot twist. After all, a plot twist is essentially revealing the villain's truth—or what they've been doing behind the scenes all along. 

To start planning your mystery or thriller plot twist, answer these essential questions:

• What does your villain want? Why? The more human their motivation, the more satisfying your twist. A villain who makes increasingly bad decisions to save their father's company is far more interesting than someone who just "likes doing bad things."
• What is your villain doing when they’re not on the page? Map out how they're actively working against your protagonist throughout the story, even if these actions never appear directly in your book.
• What will your protagonist assume about your villain? Plot twists hinge on misassumptions. Your protagonist (and reader) makes logical but incorrect assumptions, creating the perfect setup for your twist.

By starting with your villain's goals and motivations, you'll be able to create a foundation for your thriller or mystery plot that feels both surprising and inevitable when revealed.

Tip #2: Master the Art of Misdirection Through Red Herrings

Once you understand your villain's agenda, it's time to lead your readers down the wrong path with a strategic mixture of true clues and red herrings. This deliberate misdirection is what makes plot twists both surprising and satisfying for mystery and thriller readers.

Red herrings (aka false clues) function differently depending on your genre:

• In mysteries, red herrings distract readers from what has already happened
• In thrillers, red herrings make readers incorrectly believe something is coming

Regardless of which genre you’re writing in, the key is to make your red herrings as plausible—or even more plausible—than the actual truth. 

Here are some tips for writing effective red herrings:

• Make everyone a little bit messy: Give multiple characters reasons to hide information. For example, maybe one of your characters is cheating on their spouse. They might not have anything to do with the crime, but they certainly don’t want to be questioned by police. These types of secondary secrets can make great red herrings!
• Lean into your protagonist’s perspective: Your protagonist's worldview, values, and biases affect how they’ll interpret clues. If they have an unfortunate history with infidelity, they might quickly suspect a cheating spouse of murder, creating character-driven misdirection that feels organic.
• Create logical distractions: Consider what would realistically draw your character's attention in each scene and lean into that. Don't draw too much attention to important clues. Mention them naturally and move on. Trust your reader to notice them without signposting.

Remember, you're not trying to trick readers unfairly but to give them all the puzzle pieces while artfully directing their attention elsewhere. When readers reach the twist at the climax of your story, they should see that all the clues were there—they just missed their significance because of your skillful storytelling.

Tip #3: Avoid These Common Plot Twist Mistakes

Even with a great villain and clever misdirection, several critical mistakes can undermine your thriller or mystery. By recognizing these common pitfalls early in your writing process, you can craft twists that truly captivate your readers from beginning to end.

Mistake #1: Not Playing Fair with Readers

The cardinal sin of twist writing is failing to give readers all the information they need to potentially solve the mystery. A twist that comes out of nowhere without proper setup feels manipulative rather than clever. In the final product, all the clues should be present throughout your story—readers just missed their significance because of your skillful misdirection.

Mistake #2: Keeping Your Villain Off the Page

Another common mistake in mystery writing is trying to hide your villain by barely including them in your story. Your villain needs sufficient presence that readers could theoretically identify them, but not so much that the twist becomes predictable. What we don't want is a new character suddenly appearing near the end to be revealed as the culprit. This approach feels like cheating to experienced mystery readers.

Mistake #3: Confusing Vagueness with Suspense

Many beginning writers believe that being deliberately vague creates suspense in their thriller or mystery. In reality, the opposite is true. Being specific about what questions your readers should be asking creates far more engagement than leaving them uncertain about what matters. Clear story questions with carefully planted clues generate much more suspense than ambiguity ever could.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you'll elevate your plot twist from predictable to powerful, giving readers that thrilling moment of revelation they're seeking.

Final Thoughts

Your first draft doesn't need to have perfectly subtle clues and misdirection. The magic of twist writing often comes in revision, when you can look at your story objectively and fine-tune how information is revealed.

So, go ahead and get messy in your first draft! Throw in too many clues, make some too obvious, and let your villain twirl their metaphorical mustache. You can refine it all later.

If you want to dive deeper into plot twist ideation, Sam has created a free resource with 17 ideas for thriller plots and villain motivations—click here to download it and spark your imagination.

Ultimately, the best plot twists aren't just shocking moments—they're revelations that transform everything that came before, making readers want to go back and experience your story again with their new understanding. And there's nothing more thrilling than writing a twist that gives your readers goosebumps!