Writers are often told to create unpredictable scenes and to surprise the reader, but some of us (me) crave a bit more certainty in our real lives. Our kind don’t like surprises, which makes it more challenging to craft plot twists or erratic characters that don’t feel forced or unnatural.
In a blog post, Janice Hardy offers suggestions for how to be unpredictable in your writing. “Try treating your scenes like a game of chance to kick start the muse and keep readers guessing,” she says.
Hardy suggests using dice, which caught the attention of this longtime D&Der. I’m listening.
- Pick a scene. Any scene, one that’s written, one that you’re struggling with, or one that you plan to write next. In the scene, one of your characters should be faced with a decision, but you shouldn’t choose a major turning point scene.
- Pick an outcome. Write down six possible outcomes: the best possible, the worst possible, one that looks good but isn’t, one that looks bad but isn’t, one that goes against something the character believes in, and one that plays to your character’s flaws. Number them from 1 – 6.
- Roll the dice. Take the outcome and brainstorm what could happen in your scene, even if you think this is the worst choice you could make. Think outside the box and see where the choice takes you. You might find that an idea you initially rejected suggests a twist that feels right.
You don’t have to use the scene. This game is meant to be fun, an aid to brainstorming your plot. “You’d be surprised how often looking at a scene from a completely different angle brings a fresh perspective to a story,” Hardy says. “If the scene doesn’t improve or you just aren’t happy with the new direction, roll again or try a different scene.”
Click the link below for a more thorough examination of the six possible outcomes and how they might play out in a scenario.
