How to Write a PLOT TWIST! (Game-Changing Midpoint)

Do you want to SHOCK your readers with a PLOT TWIST they never saw coming? If so, you've come to the right place. This is part 1 of 2 videos exploring the psychology behind the elusive "plot twist" or "game-changing midpoint" – how to make this pivotal moment MATTER to your characters and keep your readers up wayyy past their bedtime.

🎥PREVIOUS VIDEOS IN THIS SERIES:
▶︎ACT 1
▶︎ACT 2
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0:00 Introduction
1:07 What Most Plots Twists Are Missing
2:24 The Game-Changing Midpoint
5:20 External Conflict VS Internal Conflict
6:11 Recap
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✨ V A L U A B L E R E S O U R C E S✨

MORE VIDEOS YOU WOULD LIKE:

→ PLOT DRIVEN VS CHARACTER DRIVEN STORIES

→ HOW TO WRITE THE INCITING INCIDENT

→ HOW TO WRITE REALISTIC DIALOGUE

→ WHAT IS A PINCH POINT?

✨F O L L O W ✨

✨ A B O U T ✨
My name is Abbie Emmons I teach writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling, transforming their ideas into a masterpiece, and creating a lifestyle that makes their author dreams come true.

Story isn’t about “what happens” — it’s about how what happens affects and transforms the characters. I believe that there is an exact science (a recipe, if you will) behind a perfect story. And if you know what ingredients you need, you can create your own perfect story with ease and confidence. That’s what we talk about every week on this channel – and if it’s something you’re into, be sure to subscribe and join this community!

[anna-ybwd]

Character: *Breathes*. Abbie: Yes, as you can see, we don’t see how this air MATTERS to the protagonist. Why would she breathe, given her fear clashing with her desire? These are all important questions to ask yourself.

[alex-ffbh]

damn you're literally saving my writing life

[davee]

"IT'S ABOUT WHY IT MATTERS" has literally become by writing mantra.

[dawnpoint]

Stop making such good videos! I keep having to rewrite stuff!

[francescagolden]

the fact that my book would be comprised of a single, unedited, poorly written scene if it weren’t for you.

[cameron]

I think that you can do both plot- and character-driven stories, but to be more effective you need to find a ballance of both.

[uncleanunicorn]

I need a nemesis to fall in love with me.

[blacktee]

"That's about the audience not the character." "...focus too much on the plot and not enough on the characters."

You mean like Game of Thrones?

[ninanadine]

Hey Abbie! I just bought your book, 100 days of sunlight! And OMG!!! It was so good! I was so surprised it didn't get an award! I'm hooked on the book! Your a great writer! Keep up the good work! :)

[ssamyuljins]

Great video as always Abbie! I’d like to share some of the best advice I’ve seen about plot-twists which is that it should make a reader/viewer say “I should’ve seen that coming.” It can’t come out of nowhere, it has to have cleverly hidden build-up. If the reader/viewer can’t make a connection between what they’ve already read/seen and the plot twist, then the plot twist is just forced drama with little meaning.

[davyolivierbilombo]

The manga naruto offers us a good plot twist with the revelation of Itachi being a good guy since day one, protecting his brother all along

[lisadavis]

My favorite game changing midpoint was from "Beautiful Mind" (the film). It was a surprise to learn he was mentally ill, and the audience (me) wasn't sure whether he was or not. It was great!

[kaliskingdom]

Yes! I honestly needed a video on this subject! I'm planning a book with a plot twist at the moment. Your videos are always so inspiring and informative! Thank

[vincentdeporter]

OMG! Thank you so much for all your help! My goodness, I've been a comic book writer/artist for over 43 years, published internationally, and yet I'm on my very first novel. So I'm just learning how to write in that medium. I'm really humbled binging on all your videos. Thank you a million times! 😊

[gailc.m.victor]

Hi Abbie! I've been working on the second draft of my current WIP since about a week or two before you started this series, and somehow kept about a week or two ahead of your videos as they have come out. It's been really helpful in retrospect, seeing that I'm intuitively hitting all the plot points you're describing. Having an outline and knowing what certain beats should be are one thing, but surprising myself with how definitive my story is following those beats has been really insightful and encouraging, since I'm able to define even more what story beats I'm hitting where.
Thanks for all the helpful tips, and keep up the good work!

[brooklynkramer]

I've watched this series SO MANY times it's SO GOOD! Thank you so much ABBIE! When I started writing I had no idea what I was doing and now because of you and your videos I am able to continue pursuing my passion for writing and do it RIGHT. I went from panster to planner and love outlining and story plotting and never would have come this far without you. YOU ROCK 😍😎

[hannahjcattanach]

I love a bit of juicy internal conflict!

[outsiderfilms]

Hi Abbie! I’m 12 and am currently writing a novel I hope to get published. Could you make a video about aspiring writers?

[augabachoo]

Just came up with a plot twist for my story while brainstorming. Your perspective definitely helped lead to this revelation because of how personal it is to the main character and fits so naturally to the story that I feel it was now the inevitable outcome of the character's actions and motivations.

Thank you, and love your videos and podcast!

[saraoln]

Abbie! You just read my mind! I was seriously just thinking about my plot twist 😂. Thanks for this 😊. Abbie must've been like, "Hey, you need some backup with that plot twist?"