Goblinconceivable

So I was watching a book review for a book that I liked but both loved and hated some of the plot twists. Of course this got me thinking about plot twists and why they work for both readers and the characters that are falling for these plot twists.

Readers

The key is to control the information that your readers have. Your readers aren't going to consider an option unless (1) that twist is really common for your genre and that reader has read that genre a lot and will therefore be expecting it or (2) you have very obviously given them the specific information nessesary to unintentionally figure out the twist before the characters.

Why does this information stand out, you may be wondering. It is because there is nothing else going on to distract away from a piece of information that can seem meaningless with the right context.

Most of the time, if you're not writing a very specific plot line with a very specific genre, your reader isn't going to immediately know where the plot is going so they may not be looking out for the information relevant to a later plot twist, so as long as you justify an informational choice that explains a later plot twist in a way that covers a variety of basis, they're probably not going to pick up on the one piece you left out, aka what is going to make this twist fun.

This piece of information should be something small and unassuming. It can be magical, but if you're writing fantasy that magic has to be hidden really really well. I find that a plot twist works the best when the piece of information that is missing is something you wouldn't really think about, like the reason a prince was able to infiltrate a prison and hide his identity was because he had his cousin standing in for him and we don't know that this cousin existed and knew the limits of that world's magic (this is actually a plot twist that fooled me btw despite how obvious at sounds now).

A good plot twist that fools the reader relies on twisting the information that the reader has and therefore twisting how they think the story will go.

Midway sidenote: not every plot twist needs to exist to fool both the reader and the character, sometimes it is really fun to watch a character fail because of something inherent to that character.

Characters

Remember how I said sometimes it's really fun to watch a character fail. That only works sometimes.

It is more annoying to figure out a plot twist that is really obvious and then have the character miss it because the author said so.

So how does a writer pull this off?

Be intentional. Have an idea in mind of when you want the reader to figure it out and ask your beta readers when they figured out your plot twists to control that as much as you can.

Your character does not know which genre they're in, so you have to both get inside the character's head and take the reader along with you so they understand why this character is making these poor choices and missing the most obvious villain in the room.

Why would a character miss a plot twist?

They are distracted or delusional. Characters have goals and they may ignore their better judgments to achieve these goals based on their personality. Put more emphasis on your character's motives to hide information that may make plot twists more obvious. Also, your characters may use information about their world to explain their motives and this information may also be vital to understanding a later plot twist

The average person does not go around thinking everybody around them is out to get them especially if those people seem incapable of that through the pov character's ego or the other character's demeanor. If your character has known somebody for a really long time or knows a piece of information that is vital to the worldview they're probably not going to immediately discard it. Fun fact: in the real world, when people have their views disputed, even with very good evidence, it can make them more likely to hold on to that old belief.

Expectation of harm. Different characters have different experiences with shape how bad they think things can get. For example, if a character has never experienced something, they may not know what can lead to that thing. (FYI older characters are more likely to know more things so be careful with this one.)

The Twist

For a twist to work, it must make sense with both real world and in world knowledge as well as common sense, so keep this in mind as you plan.

Conclusion

This isn't comprehensive because good plot twists require a lot of information to make them work and that's makes them very specific. While I would love to explain why different plot twists work, part of them working is them fooling you and hindsight bias is kind of a thing.

Elevation - a Secret Adventures of Jules Verne fanvid - gen

“You make me feel like I can fly.”

Because sometimes you need to take a break from the news, true crime docs, and cult shows…or maybe that’s just me.

1. The Great British Baking Show/Off: To those of you who haven’t watched,  I can hear you saying, but Manda, how can a competition show be “Feel Good”? My friends, this one is. You start with a lovely tent equipped with all the kitchen accessories your heart could desire, plunk it on a GORGEOUS British estate, add contestants who are actually decent human beings that willingly help out their fellow bakers when they need it, sprinkle in two judges who know what they’re talking about, and top it all off with two hilarious hosts (Mel and Sue will forever own my heart, but Noel has wheedled his way in there too) who encourage the contestants with pep talks, baking innuendos/puns and plenty of hugs. That’s how it’s Feel Good. 

2. Miranda: A sitcom about an awkward, hilarious woman in her late 30′s who’s  actually a normal human being aka she has cellulite, struggles to find clothes that fit, gets completely flustered at the thought of dating/*whispers*sex and loves to eat. Throw in some goofball side characters, Tom Ellis aka Lucifer himself as the main love interest and you have a show that’s “What I call…such fun!”

3. The Golden Girls: What can I say it’s a classic?! “Lanai!” “Shady Pines,Ma!” “Back in St. Olaf…” “Picture it. Sicily 1920…” “Mr. Burt Reynolds…” If you haven’t watched, just do. You won’t regret it, I swear. Plus the 1980′s aesthetic alone is worth the watch. ;) P.S. I’m just a Rose wishing she was a Sophia.

4. The Lizzie Benne Diaries: Teeeeechnically not a tv show because it’s a web series, but it’s close enough. Basically it’s if our girl Lizzie Bennet lived in 2013 and had her own vlog. So good and so funny. Each episode is only 2-5 minutes long so it’s super easy to binge. (Also I LIVE for that moment when we finally meet Darcy.)

5. The Vicar of Dibley: I’ve sung the praises of this show on many a Tag Game, but I’m doing it again! A smart, hysterical vicar comes to a small village in the English countryside and completely shakes up the villagers lives because…SPOILERS…the vicar is a woman *GASP* 

(Also American TV/Movie industry? How about y’all actually be brave for once and make a show about a plus sized woman getting the hot guy in the end too? And not make it the butt of a sick, cruel joke? That’d be greaaaaaat.)

6. Derry Girls: Five teens try navigate life at an all girls Catholic school while living in Northern Ireland right at the tail end of The Troubles. I know. I know. It sounds like it wouldn’t be Feel Good at all, and while there are moments that are heart wrenching, it’s wickedly funny and ridiculous with some truly tender scenes. Plus it has a killer 90′s soundtrack.

7. Pushing Daisies: Whimsical sets, colorful retro costumes, delicious pies, crime solving, and Lee Pace as the sweetest, woobiest baker who also happens to be a necromancer. What more could you want? (Just please don’t yell at me because there’s only two seasons.)

8. The IT Crowd: This show is just pure British comedy gold. If these three IT techs can’t make you laugh at least once, I really don’t know what will. It’s ridiculously quotable and the scenes with Moss and Roy at the football match is one of the best moments in tv history in my humble opinion. 

9. Sanditon: Think a Bridgerton that you can watch with your mom. It’s all about the  lives and loves of the Parker family set in a picturesque seaside town. Two warnings though. 1. You will fall in love with Sydney Parker. (JOOOOOIN MEEEEE) and 2. So far there’s only one season and those evil showrunners ended it on the worst sort of emotional cliffhangers.

10. Anne With An E: Okay yes, they took a looooooot of liberties with the original story, but I still feel that everything that we loved about the OG Anne is still there. You’ll still want to visit PEI as soon as possible, and you’ll still wish you had a Gilbert, Diana, Marilla and Matthew of your very own.   

And articulates what Alex brings to the table for Izzie, because my heart knows it but my brain’s been sort of flailing around trying to pin it down.

i honestly don’t know how people can prefer izzex over jolex. the whole thought just baffles me. i’ve tried to see it, tried to understand it, but i just can’t. how can people not see what jo and alex had? the pure love and understanding. the only place where they ever truly belonged. the only place where they ever felt accepted, like they didn’t need to hide themselves or try to be someone they weren’t. how can they not see what they had was what they wrote in the books we love so much and call the greatest of love stories? how can they not see that they never gave up on each other, how they fought for one another over and over again. i don’t get it. 

i know that the izzex community is much smaller than the jolex one, but i can’t see how there even is one at all, one that prefers them to jo and alex, that is. izzie and alex didn’t fight for one another, and yes, they did love each other at a point in time, but izzie didn’t love alex the way she loved denny, and alex doesn’t love izzie the way he loves jo, and i will go to my grave saying it.  

1.) if there is one thing i’ve learned from being on this sight, it’s to tag everything. and by everything i mean everything. gifs, fics, text, you name it, you tag it. even if it simply mentions something, tag it. this is what i did with my previous post. Because while you might follow the izzex tag, one of my followers might have it blocked. I cannot even begin to say how frustrating it is to come across things where people don’t correctly tag their posts. Because i can come across a whole hate post for one of my favorite ships of all time, and it can say some nasty things. It’s hurtful, to say the least. So, no, I chose to tag this as Izzex, because as JOLEX blog, I know pretty much every single follower of mine doesn’t like to see Izzex on their page, and I can pretty much guarantee at least one of them has the tagged blocked. And if i can make one person as happy as I am when I see the little notif that informs me that the post shows a tag i have blocked, I am going to do so. 

2.) I don’t view this as an anti-izzex, so that’s why i didn’t tag it as such. I don’t see it that way simply because i’m not anti-izzex, I’m simply anti Izzex endgame. I don’t see this as a hate post either. Because hate posts simply shit-talk ships, characters, etc… This is simply as comparison. A comparison of how I personally feel. 

3.) I was gonna keep this to be like, super nice and stuff, but i’ve re-read your thing a few times, and I feel i’ve earned the right to say this (please realize i’m not trying to start anything, i’m just sharing my opinion, as have you).  

-The izzex community is not nearly as small as you think it is. Like, at all. I thought it was smaller, until i realized that support doesn’t just come through edits and fanfics. There’s a crap ton of Izzex fans out there, I promise you. Just go look on instagram under the tag. You’ll find a lot of supporters there.

-i’m trying to say this in the least bitchy was possible, but where in the world did i once say that that if you’re an Izzex stan that “you’re existence is offensive and invaluable and you should go away”? I said nothing near that. I said “but i can’t even see how there is one at all.” Is it a bit harsh? Yes. But to say that i view Izzex supporters and their existence as as offensive and invaluable? Please, do not put words in my mouth, i said nothing of the sort. But if you need me to rephrase it, i will. 

Even if I do not agree with you and your ship, I still view your existence as valuable and non-offensive.    

 -this is my blog. I come on here to rant, talk about my day, reblog gif sets, cry over tv shows, and obsess over new ones. Owning my own blog means that i’m allowed to post whatever I want. And if that means writing a rant about why I PERSONALLY BELIEVE that Jolex is better than Izzex, then i’m going to do so. Am i telling you that you should hate Izzex with all your heart? No. I’m simply saying I think Jolex is better. 

-Look at my blog. Look at my pinned post. It’s Jolex. Nearly everything I’ve written is for Jolex. So when I made the post, I know that my followers, my JOLEX followers were going to be interacting with it. And they did! From my fellow jolex fans, I got the nods of agreement I was looking for. 

-I don’t know how you found this post honestly, it’s nearly a year old. Kinda forgot it was even here. I wouldn’t change anything about the way its done. I still feel the same way I did then. Jolex is my favorite ship. Ever. I’m not sorry about posting it, since its something i do feel constantly. I will, tag this post as Izzex as well, so that way the people who have the tag blocked don’t see it.