Plot Twist Story Prompts: Shouldn’t Do This

Plot twist story prompts aren't meant for the beginning or the end of stories. Rather, they're for forcing big and small turns in the anticipated trajectory of a story. This is to make it more interesting for the readers and writers alike.

Each week, I'll provide a new prompt to help twist your story. Find last week's prompt, Split Up, here.

For today's prompt, have one of your characters help someone when they know they shouldn't. The helping hand could be given by a main character, or it could be given by a minor character. However, the person giving the help should give it in full knowledge that they're not supposed to be giving aid.

(What Is a Minor Character?)

One example of this would be that your main protagonist is captured and surely on the way to a death sentence. However, one of the guards feels sympathy toward the protagonist and against their better judgement decide to assist the protagonist in escaping their fate.

In another scenario, the protagonist provides the aid. And maybe they regret it immediately or eventually when they find themselves in a situation in which the protagonist has to keep a secret from their allies. Of course, this creates tension and conflict in the story and could guide the plot, especially if the secret becomes known.

Of course, escape is only one type of assistance. A character could also share food, shelter, or intelligence. Maybe the character gives a tool to another character when they're not supposed to and then the tool turns into a murder weapon. Or a secret shared comes back to haunt the person who shared it.

So have a character help someone when they know they shouldn't and find out where it takes your story.

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Have you hit a wall on your work-in-progress? Maybe you know where you want your characters to end up, but don’t know how to get them there. Or, the story feels a little stale but you still believe in it. Adding a plot twist might be just the solution.

Click to continue.