Hey there! Here’s my answer to this Thursday’s blog hop question: Click here to join in! http://bit.ly/ksX4VG
Writing scenes(Part One): How would you define a ‘twist’? Do you use a twist in every scene or just at the end of the book? Question provided by affiliate author L. P Robinson (Part one, part two is next week!)
Yes, I do try to use a “twist” in every scene. At first this is not a conscious decision, although I have been taught to do it, my first scribbles are more or less some sort of brain dump on paper. But once I have the story pretty much sussed and I start to transfer my scribbles to the computer that is when I go through each scene separately and work out what is needed within each to (hopefully)
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make it read a bit more exciting and give the story some “OOMPH!” I also use index cards to work out if I have the right elements in each scene.
How do I classify a twist? Well, if you know me, you’ll know I’ve been taught by Holly Lisle (and although I cannot claim to be best friends, 😉 I have taken many of her courses and she is the most hands on teacher I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Anyway, I digress, but my version of “twist” is what I’ve been taught by Holly – In each scene there needs to be a mixture of:
A protagonist versus (conflict) an antagonist, in a setting with a twist. The twist being the point that changes everything.
Like a woman (protagonist) acting childish, screaming and crying because she doesn’t want (conflict) her boyfriend (the antagonist – refusing to budge on the subject) to get that really well paid job 1000 miles away in France (setting). And then comes the twist. She’s pregnant. (The twist. The thing that changes everything in that scene. No going back).
Well, that’s my take on it!
Of course, not every twist is quite so dramatic, and conflict doesn’t always have to mean an argument, but I hope you get the gist. The gist of the twist. Oh, I’m a poet and I don’t know it. Again. Amen.
Hugs, all,
Happy Author Blog Hopping!
The Smut Hut | Angelika Devlyn | Author of Erotica 
I think I’d get too frustrated if I tried to add a twist to every scene. Maybe that’s what I’m doing wrong! I like to use pivotal scenes instead, one or two that shift the whole focus of the book.
As usual, I enjoyed your hop!
I don’t think there needs to be a twist in every scene. I agree with the pivotal scenes version. But really the story will reveal the needed twists. That moment when a new direction is available/needed.
Cher Green
Angel, that’s quite a post and I agree with you because I’m taking Holly Lisle’s courses too. lol But what she says makes a lot of sense.
I like twists because of their unexpecedness, the surprise I feel when I end up where the twist takes me. I really am working hard to get my writing to stand out like that.
Good post.
Hi Angelika,
Great blog post and now I would like to read some of your work. I agree that a twist makes people stop and think and it almost jolts you awake to the possibilities of a scene. I like to put my twists at the end of the story, but throwing one in the middle also works. For instance, I put a twist in my soon-to-be-published YA book that I didn’t think about until I was halfway through the story. Then it just presented itself.
Thank you for visiting my blog and I hope you will come again.:)
A wonderful teacher I have recently found is Kristen Lamb. I recently write about her on my Friday Alternative Read Blog *promo lol* She talked about the development of a scene as well. It is all about cause and effect. One thing leads to another, a twist can steer the car in a different direction and take the scenic route or get you lost. The important thing I think it to make sure you ALWAYS know the destination. :0) http://bit.ly/ilqKgq Great Blog, Angelika, as always!