Like many of you, I read voraciously, especially MTS. And one of the trends that is driving me crazy currently is the twist at the end that "you never saw coming!" Sometimes the big reveal feels so shoehorned in as to be . In one book I read recently, the reviews were so that the author felt compelled to take to his blog to explain/justify the ending. And you know the old saw--if you're explaining, you're losing.
So two questions:
One--as a reader, how do you feel about the final killer twist? (Cue the chorus: "As long as it's done well!")
Two--as a writer, is this something on your radar? Do you feel like your book has to have a twist to work?
I'm staring down the barrel of a WIP that does not appear to have a twist (I'm a pantser, so who knows for sure), and while I don't write for trends (right now I'm writing merely to entertain myself and inflict on friends), and just kind of noodling through the current climate in my mind.
Your thoughts?
So two questions:
One--as a reader, how do you feel about the final killer twist? (Cue the chorus: "As long as it's done well!")
Two--as a writer, is this something on your radar? Do you feel like your book has to have a twist to work?
I'm staring down the barrel of a WIP that does not appear to have a twist (I'm a pantser, so who knows for sure), and while I don't write for trends (right now I'm writing merely to entertain myself and inflict on friends), and just kind of noodling through the current climate in my mind.
Your thoughts?