Plot Twists

A popular format for short stories is the twist in the ending. Something happens that the reader could not infer was going to happen.

It must come as a complete surprise to the reader but has to be set up properly. A few clues or signposts should be sprinkled throughout the short story so the reader doesn’t feel cheated.

Here are some ideas to help you:

• The villain turns out to be the hero.
• A minor error ends all hope of success.
• The story takes place in the future.
• The main character appears to be young but turns out be old.
• The villain gets caught in his/her own trap.
• Someone who is supposed to be dead is actually alive.
• Something insignificant mentioned at the beginning turns out to be vital. Someone unexpected betrays the villain.
• The main character appears to be old but turns out to be young.
• The hero turns out to be the villain.
• A woman turns out to be a man.
• The narrator turns out to be unreliable.

Here are some examples:

1. "He lied down on his bed. He didn't care about his shoes; the bed would get dirty anyway. The sun was shining through the blades of his blinds. It shone on his desk on which there were sheets with homework which he hadn't done yet. On the floor right next to his desk lied even more sheets many of which weren't touched for months. Besides his desk was a cabinet were he stuffed all things in and which seemed to burst open at a moment's notice.
Then he looked at the shotgun lying on the floor with which he just had shot himself.
He closed his eyes. "

2. In The Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce, Peyton Farquhar is about to be hanged for being a Confederate supporter. Before the hanging takes place, the rope breaks, he falls into the water, and is miraculously freed. He manages to reach his home, some great distance away, and is about to embrace his loving wife when the rope jerks and the reader finds that he has never left the bridge, and was only dreaming about being freed.

3. In Philip K. Dick’s science fiction short story Impostor the hero wakes up beside his wife and goes off to work unaware that he is a robot who was sent to destroy Earth’s science labs and then self-destruct. He has killed the real Spense Olham, absorbed his memories, and erased all recollection of who he truly is for security reasons in case he is questioned. When he falls under suspicion, he attempts to prove his innocence, totally unaware of his true identity, which comes as a shock to him as well as the reader.

4. In The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, a young and poor romantic couple both make sacrifices to buy Christmas presents for each other. Della cuts and sells her prize possession − her beautiful hair − to buy a chain for Jim’s watch. In the meantime Jim sells his treasured watch to buy some combs for Della’s long hair. Neither have a gift that is useful, but the love they have for each other is more valuable than either gift.